Bad NEWS for Naval Air Station Oceana?

Jacksonville. Florida pushes for F-35

Follow up:

In Jacksonville, Florida, the Air Force will have a series of open houses February 8 to decide if the F-35 Lightning II aircraft will be based, among others, at the Air Guard Station near Jacksonville International Airport. The facility now serves as a base for the F-15 Eagle, an aircraft type being phased out by the F-35. The facility employs 1,000 workers.

Only one of several sites will be selected, but the Florida Guard is optimistic about Jacksonville's chances. Jacksonville offers excellent operational qualities because of fewer flight restrictions and easy access to federal bombing ranges.

The F-35 is the armed services new Joint Strike Fighter that will allow for cross service maintenance and home field facilities. Currently, the Navy’s only east coast aircraft depot level maintenance facility (NADEP) is located in the Jacksonville area. With a projected relocation of a nuclear aircraft carrier to Mayport, could the F-35 replacing the Virginia Beach NAS Oceana’s aging F-18B Hornet be co-located with the Air Force units?

Congress’ desire to attain a 313 ship Navy will call for some shore-based economies. Could this be one of them?