Sioux Falls Hopes of Hosting F-35 Fighters Grounded
For some time now, Sioux Falls city officials have been in the process of trying to catch the military's eye in an attempt to make the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing at Joe Foss Field a potential home for F-35 fighter jets.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader is reporting those hopes have now been grounded.
18 different sites were under consideration for the F-35 fighters. The U.S. Air Force recently selected five sites for a follow-up survey, and Sioux Falls was not one of them.
According to the South Dakota National Guard officials, the survey would've been the next step for the location to be selected.
The lack of flight training facilities in close proximity to Sioux Falls hurt the unit during the selection process.
The five bases still under consideration are located in, Montgomery, Alabama; Madison, Wisconsin; Boise, Idaho; Jacksonville, Florida; and Harrison Township, Michigan.
The bases located in two of those cities will be selected to host the F-35 fighters, which the military plans to deliver no sooner than 2022.
Source: The Argus Leader
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