Vermont’s congressional delegation says the state’s Air National Guard base is a finalist to become one of the first operational bases for the next generation fighter plane, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Sen. Patrick Leahy says the Air Force reviewed more than 200 locations before selecting the base at the Burlington International Airport as one of five finalists to become an operational F-35 base.
Leahy says the Vermont Air Guard has earned a reputation for excellence and deserves to be considered.
The final decision on the bases are expected next spring.
The Air Force is expected to start using F-35s in 2013, but it’s unclear when they would start arriving in Burlington – if the state is chosen to host them.