First F-35 Lightning II arrives at Luke AFB
3/11/2014 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Escorted by two F-16s, Luke AFB's first F-35 Lightning II arrived a little after 11 a.m. this morning from the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Tex.
"This is a day that has been a long time coming. It's the result of many years of hard work by countless people in the military and in the community," Col. John Hanna, 56th Operations Group commander, said at a press conference after the jet landed.
The jet is the first of 144 that will eventually be assigned to Luke. Approximately 16 U.S. jets are expected by the end of 2014, and the full contingent of aircraft should arrive incrementally over the next decade.
"Having F-35s at Luke ensures the long-term viability of our mission and safeguards the long-term presence of the base as a community partner and an economic engine in the West Valley," Hanna said.
http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123403075