HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, Nov. 10, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base will conduct local night flying operations starting Tuesday.
The flights, which will go through Nov. 22, will mostly end by 10:30 p.m., though some flights will be later than normal, said a news release from the air force base.
“Local residents will notice increased activity during the evening hours as pilots continue to sharpen their night-time combat flying skills,” the news release said. “The wings are required to train at night to maintain their readiness and all-weather capabilities. Increased flying also provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate aircraft maintenance resiliency and operational agility.”
The wings now have three fighter squadrons with more than 70 aircraft, the most since receiving the first F-35A in 2015, which also factors into the increased activity. This includes many new pilots who need specific training.
The 388th and 419th are the Air Force’s first combat-capable F-35 units, the news release said. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill in September 2015. “The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW fly and maintain the jet in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components,” the news release said. “By the end of this year, Hill AFB will be home to 78 F-35s.”
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