By David Axe February 23, 2021 The U.S. Air Force’s top officer wants the service to develop an affordable, lightweight fighter to replace hundreds of Cold War-vintage F-16s and complement a small fleet of sophisticated—but costly and unreliable—stealth fighters. The result would be a high-low mix of expensive “fifth-generation” F-22s and F-35s and inexpensive “fifth-generation-minus” […]
By Chris Hubbuch December 8,2020 A group opposed to basing F-35 fighter jets in Madison is suing the National Guard over its environmental review of construction to prepare Truax Field to host the new planes. Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin claims the National Guard Bureau violated federal environmental law by “failing to adequately study and […]
By Courtney Lamdin October 29, 2020 A sizable contribution from a Vermont utility will help soundproof buildings in three Chittenden County cities affected by F-35 jet noise, officials said Thursday. Vermont Gas Systems will kick in $550,000 for Burlington International Airport’s noise mitigation program in fiscal year 2021. The amount covers the required 10 percent […]
By Katie Jickling Oct 9, 2020 Eight members of the Vermont Air National Guard have tested positive for Covid-19, causing the Guard to temporarily ground F-35 flights. The first Guard member came down with the virus on Oct. 1, said Ben Truman, spokesperson for the Department of Health. [FULL ARTICLE]
By Grace Elletson September 27, 2020 Jen Lazer didn’t think that motherhood in Burlington, Vermont, would include desensitizing her baby to the frequent roar of F-35 fighter jets. “She stares at the sky and shakes and cries and grabs me. She thrusts her head into my chest,” Lazer said. “We explain that there are machines […]
By Colin Flanders September 3, 2020 Burlington International Airport has received more than $6 million in federal grants to complete infrastructure upgrades and address noise concerns related to the controversial F-35 jets. The largest of the three grants awarded to the Burlington travel hub is a $3.49 million appropriation that will be used to soundproof Chamberlin Elementary […]
By: Jake Johnson July 28, 2020 In a floor speech late Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described the GOP’s newly released coronavirus stimulus package as a “carefully tailored” plan to provide financial relief to desperate Americans. But a look at the legislative text (pdf) released by Senate Republicans shows the HEALS Act is replete […]
By: Joe Gould July 29, 2020 WASHINGTON ― Senate Republicans’ proposed $1 trillion coronavirus relief package includes at least $7 billion for weapons programs, part of $29 billion for defense overall. The 177-page draft appropriations legislation unveiled Monday would include funding for military helicopters, aircraft, ships and missile defense systems. The bill also includes $11 […]
By: Valerie Insinna June 25,2020 WASHINGTON — The most widely used variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is currently unable to fly in thunderstorms after the discovery of damage to one of the systems it uses to protect itself from lightning, its prime contractor Lockheed Martin said Wednesday. To safely fly in conditions where lightning […]
By Ryan Pickrell June 9, 2020 An F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter’s landing gear collapsed after it landed at Hill Air Force Base following a routine training flight Monday. The pilot made it out and is currently being medically evaluated, Air Force Times reported, citing a statement from the base. The latest incident involving […]