(Glendale, AZ) -- The Air Force has recommended Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona as its preferred site to train pilots on the U.S. military's newest joint strike fighter jet. Gary Strasburg, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon is quoted by AZCentral.com as saying the decision isn't set in cement because an environmental impact study still needs to be done. He said it's believed when the environmental analysis is finished "it will still be the right choice for us."
If it wins final approval, the sprawling base, west of Phoenix, will become home to three squadrons of F-35 Lightning aircraft with the first arriving in 2013. The F-35 is scheduled to replace aging F-16 aircraft. The first full squadron of 24 futuristic jets would be in the skies over Arizona in 2015.
