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Crowd Divided On Locating New Military Jets In Madison

Decision Expected In February

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F-16, below, escorting two F-35 jets, above.
F-16, below, escorting two F-35 jets, above, after arriving the latter arrived at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.  Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

The possibility of locating the military’s newest fighter jets in Madison drew hundreds of people to a National Guard meeting on Thursday night.

The crowd at the Alliant Energy Center 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.

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

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The Wisconsin State Journal reported that 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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