Air Force gathers input on Boise as F-35 training site

BOISE -- Gowen Field at the Boise Airport is one of five possible training stations for the Air Force's latest strike aircraft, the F-35A.

Monday night, the Air Force heard from locals to get a sense of community reaction and concern about the idea.

The F-35A is intended to give the U.S. the upper hand in just about any combat situation through the year 2040.

It has low visibility, speed, and advanced electronics.

Adding the F-35A to the mission at Gowen Field would have obvious economic impacts - a fact hammered home a news conference Monday.

"The current payroll of the National Guard is estimated to be about $60 million and that would easily double that in the years ahead for probably around 40 years," said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter.

Alex LeBeau, president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, says bringing the F-35A to Idaho would mean 3,000 new jobs in the Gem State.

"Three-thousand new careers, not just good paying jobs but careers, and that's the kind of economic development we welcome into the state of Idaho," said LaBeau.

"If they make it based upon the acceptance in the environment and the ops they have available to them Idaho is the place," said Gov. Butch Otter. 

But the Air Force has to be convinced that Idaho is the perfect  home to train and store the jet it touts as the premier strike aircraft needed to defeat 21st Century threats. 

The final decision is still at least a year away.

In the meantime, public meetings like one held in Marsing Monday night are being held to get information out and citizen feedback.

"I think it's important to support what the Air Force is going so I wanted to come out and make my opinion known," said Wendy Stansele.

The people we talked to shared the same focus we heard from government leaders earlier - jobs.

"The more I found out about it I think it would be very good for our state economically and employmentwise it would be great," said Vicky Downing.

"It would bring a lot of jobs and we could certainly use them right now," says George Lont.  

The big decision about the future of the F-35 is expected to be made some time in spring of 2011.

On the Net: http://idahof35.com/