BOISE, Idaho -- The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is tardy, over budget and its jet engine roar could eclipse planes it's due to replace. Even so, Air Force officials at eleven bases in seven states -- and civilian leaders in surrounding communities -- aim to convince Pentagon brass to choose them for the latest in air combat. For bases, getting the planes could mean survival in a post-Cold War era of downsizing. For military communities, it means an economic shot-in-the-arm. But some base neighbors fear the "sound of freedom" from jets will hurt their quality of life -- and property values. In Idaho, officials are hawking the F-35 with the state-sponsored lottery. Arizona, Utah, Florida, New Mexico, Vermont and South Carolina bases are also up for the planes.
