Crowd divided on locating F-35s at Wisconsin’s Truax Field

MADISON, Wis. — The possibility of locating the military’s newest fighter jets in Madison drew hundreds of people to a National Guard meeting.

The crowd at the Alliant Energy Center Thursday night in Madison was divided on whether basing the supersonic jets at Truax Field would be a good idea. The base is one of five locations under consideration for two squadrons of F-35 jets.

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Wisconsin, Alabama Air Guard bases chosen for F-35A

The Air National Guard’s next two F-35A squadrons will likely be based at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Alabama and Dannelly Field in Alabama.

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An environmental impact study says noise from the jets could render more than 1,000 homes “incompatible for residential use.”

The State Journal says opponents held “No F-35” signs and sang protest songs, while proponents wore blue stickers and baseball caps supporting the $90 million jets.

If selected, Truax would get 20 jets by 2024. A final decision by the secretary of the Air Force is expected in February.

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