USAF – Tyndall Air Force Base great location for up to three F-35 Squadrons
Washington, DC – The United States Air Force, according to acting secretary of the Air Force, Matt Donovan said today that the Air Force has “… completed an in-depth analysis & confirmed Tyndall is a great location for up to three #F35 squadrons…” by 2023.
Last October, Tyndall suffered a direct hit by Category 5 Hurricane Michael, which damaged nearly all of the installation’s buildings and training facilities. Most of base housing was also destroyed by the high winds.
Tyndall Air Force Base officials are working on a plan to design a flexible installation that can welcome the F-35 as well as the MQ-9 and possibly other aircraft without major modifications.
It is estimated that it will cost about $4.7 billion dollars to repair the base, due to the damage from the hurricane. The current appropriations budget that was passed and signed into law this summer, only appropriated about $2 billion to the Air Force for projects/repairs for Tyndall and Offutt Air Force Base that suffered major flooding this past spring.
Response on Twitter:
After Hurricane Michael destroyed Tyndall Air Force Base in October, I promised, on behalf of @realDonaldTrump, that our Admin would rebuild @TeamTyndall. I’m proud to announce we can rebuild the F35s by 2023! This is how we keep America’s great @usairforce lethal & ready!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 6, 2019
The @usairforce is committed to sending #F35s to @TeamTyndall. The #USAF just completed an in-depth analysis & confirmed @TeamTyndall is a great location for up to three #F35 squadrons that will increase our #readiness & #lethality. #PanHandleStrong pic.twitter.com/8Hf5ovfdE1
— Matt Donovan (@ActingSecAF) August 6, 2019
Today @realDonaldTrump & @VP reaffirmed their commitment to fully rebuilding @TeamTyndall for the 5th generation fighter by 2023. This announcement gives certainty to our airmen at Tyndall & to the Panhandle as we continue to rebuild from Hurricane Michael. https://t.co/4yPRsn7BfY
— Dr. Neal Dunn (@DrNealDunnFL2) August 6, 2019