I am genuinely dismayed by the news that the Air Force has decided to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Force at Burlington Airport!

I can’t imagine why they would make this decision, given the nearness of dense population and the expressed hostility of much of the surrounding community.  It isn’t as if there was no place more suitable vying for the honor of hosting the planes!

Having succeeded in a political end-game to disempower opponents of the plan, the “mighty” apparently closed rank on this one, and would not hear “no” for an answer.

Stunning.

Well…I sincerely hope they are 100% correct in their assurances that the aircraft poses no threat to health and safety in the Burlington area; but only time will tell.

Given the tremendous cost-overruns in developing the planes, and belt-tightening at the Pentagon that has gone so far as to suggest eliminating all commissaries, perhaps the good people of South Burlington and Winooski will get a last minute reprieve, since the planes aren’t set to deploy for another couple of years.  

One can only hope.