nastyleg
04-06-2010, 01:21 PM
Study of F-35s at Luke AFB continues
EL MIRAGE, Ariz. -- The debate continues over whether Luke Air Force Base should become home to the new F-35 fighter jets.
Luke, on the west edge of Glendale, is currently the largest training base in the world for F-16s, soon to be replaced by F-35s.
Arizona State University professor and economic development expert Tim Hogan is conducting a study of how property values around Luke would be affected because of the increased noise from the F-35s.
In a study requested by the city of El Mirage, Hogan said property values would lose from 9 to 17 percent.
Officials say and F-35 is two to four times noiser than an F-16, and Hogan said, "High aircraft noise does have a negative impact on houses that are affected by that, if they're in the flight path."
While Luke is a boon to the West Valley economy, Hogan said, "There are millions of dollars also that affect individual homeowners, so they're affected both ways."
El Mirage is the only West Valley city withholding its support for Luke to get the F-35s.
Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett said property values will drop more if Luke closes than if it gets the F-35s.
The Department of Defense is to decide next spring which of several bases under study will get the new jets.
http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1281192
EL MIRAGE, Ariz. -- The debate continues over whether Luke Air Force Base should become home to the new F-35 fighter jets.
Luke, on the west edge of Glendale, is currently the largest training base in the world for F-16s, soon to be replaced by F-35s.
Arizona State University professor and economic development expert Tim Hogan is conducting a study of how property values around Luke would be affected because of the increased noise from the F-35s.
In a study requested by the city of El Mirage, Hogan said property values would lose from 9 to 17 percent.
Officials say and F-35 is two to four times noiser than an F-16, and Hogan said, "High aircraft noise does have a negative impact on houses that are affected by that, if they're in the flight path."
While Luke is a boon to the West Valley economy, Hogan said, "There are millions of dollars also that affect individual homeowners, so they're affected both ways."
El Mirage is the only West Valley city withholding its support for Luke to get the F-35s.
Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett said property values will drop more if Luke closes than if it gets the F-35s.
The Department of Defense is to decide next spring which of several bases under study will get the new jets.
http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1281192