Air Force to deliver F-35 to Burlington ahead of schedule
By Brad Evans
April 4, 2016
Air Force officials announced Monday the Burlington Air Guard will receive its first F-35A aircraft in the fall of 2019.
The Air Force said the aircraft will be used by the Vermont Air National Guard to grow its active-duty maintenance force.
“The Air Force is experiencing a shortage of experienced, active-duty fighter aircraft maintainers,” Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support Lt. Gen John B. Cooper said. “Delivering F-35s to an Air National Guard base before standing up a new active duty unit will allow us to take advantage of Burlington’s experienced fighter aircraft maintenance force as we transition from legacy aircraft to the F-35A.”