The Air Force has selected NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, as the preferred location for the first Air Force Reserve F-35 base. The base is slated to begin receiving its strike fighters in the mid-2020s. “We selected the Air Force Reserve unit in Fort Worth because it is the location that meets all of the necessary training requirements at the lowest cost,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James in a Jan. 12 release. “Additionally, the location will provide mission synergy and access to an experienced workforce for recruiting as a result of its proximity to the F-35 manufacturing plant,” which also is based in Fort Worth. Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; Homestead ARB, Fla.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo.; are the reasonable alternative sites. The Air Force also is continuing with site surveys at Dannelly Field AGS, Ala.; Gowen Field AGS, Idaho; Jacksonville AGS, Fla.; Selfridge ANGS, Mich.; and Truax AGS, Wis.; as potential sites for the next two Air National Guard-led F-35 bases, states the release. USAF expects to release the preferred and reasonable alternatives for the Guard bases this summer. F-35As also will begin arriving at the second and third Guard bases in the mid-2020s. The service also has selected Hill AFB, Utah; RAF Lakenheath, UK; and Eielson AFB, Alaska, as the first Active Duty-led F-35A bases. Burlington AGS, Vt., was selected as the first Air National Guard F-35A base.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.