Eglin AFB, Fla., and near-by Hurlburt Field, closed this week due to torrential rainfall that flooded parts of the East Coast, Eglin spokeswoman Lois Walsh told Air Force Magazine. Eglin closed April 30 and reopened the following day, but Hurlburt Field, which is just 12 miles southwest of Eglin, remained closed as of Thursday afternoon. The area received more than 10 inches of rain during a two-day period, said Walsh. Base officials are “assessing damage on base today,” she added Thursday. “[Hurlburt] had a lot more flooding than we did,” she said, adding that most of the damage was not on Eglin, but to the surrounding areas, making it difficult for people to get on base. “As of yesterday afternoon, most of the damage sustained on Eglin was [to] range roads [that lead to weapons testing],” she said. Eglin-based weather personnel determined that last month was the second wettest April on record with 18.28 inches falling on the area, she said. “Our normal total precipitation for the entire year is 61.6 inches,” and they’ve already received about half that, said Walsh.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.