Vt. Air Guard F-35 training at Eglin

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - More than 100 members of the Vermont Air National Guard left this week for Eglin AFB, Fla., for a training event, known as Southern Lightning, to learn more about how to maintain F-35A fifth-generation jet-fighters. The guard personnel are primarily from the Maintenance and Operations Groups. "This is the first opportunity to take aircraft, equipment and personnel and practice in a new environment," said Lt. Col. Ernest Tomasi, 158th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. The Vermont air guard is the first guard unit in the country to receive the F-35A. The first two planes arrived in September. The full complement of 20 are scheduled to be in Vermont by this summer. (Source: The AP 01/25/20)