Why The US Air Force Is Betting Its Newest Stealth Fighters On A Hurricane-Flattened Florida Coastline

On May 8, the United States Air Force (USAF) announced that Homestead Air Reserve Base is a leading candidate to transition out of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon to the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Leaving behind the legacy fourth-generation fighter, the 482nd Fighter Wing would be the next Air Reserve Component unit to continue the modernization of Reserve and Guard squadrons around the nation. However, there is a caveat that comes with selecting 482, which is the risk of hurricane damage to the aircraft and squadron facilities.