Below are descriptions of the items available on the silent auction list. To view current bids, or if you are interested in making a bid, please review and fill out the form here. Keep in mind all proceeds will benefit Fighter Country Foundation. Good Luck!
Current Bid: $200 on 3 Bottles of 1982 Chateau Ducru –Beaucaillou, Saint Julien
Current Bid: $3000 on 8 Days in Hawaii at the Hyatt Maui & Four Seasons Maui
Current Bid: $1500 on 5 Days in Hawaii at the Kauai Hyatt
Current Bid: $100 on Party for 10 including half-day horseback ride plus picnic lunch
Current Bid: $100 on Lunch for 4 with Senator Russell Pearce
Current Bid: $350 on 2 First Class Round-trip tickets +2 nights in Miami, Florida
Current Bid: $100 on Scottsdale Gun Club Annual Membership +
Current Bid: $100 on Handcrafted Custom Made Knife
Current Bid: none on Ride in a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
Current Bid: none on Ride in a N. American T-6 Texan
Current Bid: none on Ride in a Piper PA-28 Turbo Arrow
Current Bid: $25 on Sun Country Aviation Discovery Flight
Current Bid: none on Arizona Aviation Discovery Flight
For a complete description of each item, please download a PDF.
Read More
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Arizona’s local and state government officials, as well as the Arizona congressional delegation, are delighted with today’s decision that the Air Force has selected Luke Air Force Base as the preferred location for the new F-35 Pilot Training Center.
With today’s decision by the Air Force, Luke is poised to transition from its current F-16 training mission to become the Air Force’s F-35 “school house,” subject to completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process that is currently underway.
“Today’s announcement is great news for our region and our state and represents a major milestone and the most critical stage in the F-35 site selection process,” said Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs.
“Although we realize there is more work ahead of us, we are extremely grateful to our state’s congressional delegation, the Arizona Legislature, Governor Jan Brewer, Attorney General Terry Goddard, and citizens and businesses for working closely with us to champion and support the F-35 coming to Luke Air Force Base through our Luke Forward campaign,” Scruggs said.
The campaign was developed locally to send a clear, strong message to the Department of Defense that Arizona supports Luke Air Force Base continuing to serve as one of the country’s premier fighter pilot training facilities and to raise awareness of the critical role Luke plays in our national defense and the state’s economy.
The campaign was created by the West Valley Partners and Fighter Country Partnership. The West Valley Partners include Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Gila Bend, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Maricopa County, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise, Tolleson, Wickenburg and Youngtown.
Gov. Brewer said the Air Force’s decision is, in part, the result of all levels of local and state governments, as well as the private sector, working in partnership on a common vision.
“We all know that Luke is the ideal location for this next generation fighter, but I also believe that today’s decision demonstrates Arizona’s ability to roll up our sleeves and work together for the betterment of our state,” she said.
“It’s critical that we continue to do all we can to preserve current and future missions at our military installations in order to keep this very important industry viable in our state.”
Luke Air Force Base and other military installations in the state collectively represent one of the largest industries in Arizona and generate more than $9 billion annually in economic impact statewide. Luke alone contributes more than 8,000 jobs and $2.17 billion annually to Arizona’s economy, according to a recent study commissioned by the state.
Fighter Country Partnership (FCP) Chairman Charley Freericks, who is co-chairing the Luke Forward campaign with Scruggs, credits community support for today’s decision.
“Local community support of military bases is very important back in Washington, and we know the tremendous Valley and statewide support for Luke Air Force Base really helped us,” said Freericks, a senior vice president at DMB Associates.
“We reached literally tens of thousands of Arizonans through our citizen and business outreach initiatives, and community support for Luke Air Force Base was overwhelming. There is no question that this strong level of support was a significant factor in the Air Force’s decision to site the F-35 at Luke.”
Today’s announcement is being made prior to the release of the Air Force’s draft F-35 basing EIS document, which is anticipated to be published in the next 30 days. The Air Force is required to conduct an environmental assessment of each potential F-35 site before making its final basing decision.
This federally mandated assessment, which is referred to as the EIS process, allows individual citizens and communities around candidate bases to provide input during the formal evaluation of each base.
The Draft EIS will serve as the Air Force’s notice of intent to proceed. Once the Draft EIS is released, in which Luke will be identified as the Air Force’s preferred site, public hearings will be held later this year.
Once the public hearings are held and the comment period concludes, the Air Force will release its final EIS document that will provide responses to comments received from the public.
After the Final EIS document is published, there will be an additional 30-day public review period. After reviewing comments received during this time frame and after considering any environmental impacts, the Air Force will making its final basing decision. It is anticipated the Air Force’s final “Record of Decision,” which will conclude the EIS process, will be made in early 2011.
Read More
Arizona is our home. It’s where we live, work, and raise our families. It’s also the training ground for the world’s largest Fighter Base. That’s why, for more than a decade, our organization has been dedicated to the men, women, families and mission of the United States Air Force in Arizona. Welcome to Luke Air Force Base. Welcome to Fighter Country.
When the community joins forces with local and state government, the business sector and the military, a strong alliance is developed. A Partnership is formed.
Many people ask, “Why does an Air Force Base need my support?” And “Doesn’t the Government pay for everything?” These are good questions with answers that may surprise you. Although it’s true that the Government does a great job in funding many base functions and programs, with the global war on terror, much of the budget has been reduced. In fact, over the last few years, many Bases have experienced budget reductions of 40% or more over the last few years. This eliminates funding for many events and human services programs. That’s where we come in.
The need to support Luke AFB
As a 2.17 Billion dollar economic engine for the State of Arizona, Luke deserves our attention. When you have the world’s largest Air Force Base in your backyard, you’ve got to protect it. Fighter Country Partnership has done just that locally and in our Nation’s capital for more than 10 years.
Six Critical Reasons to Support Luke
Arizona needs to keep the mission of Luke Air Force Base today, and long into the future. To do that, here are a few things we must be aware of.
Luke Air Force Base has six Critical Mission Elements. Unlike any other Base in the world, Luke has the ability to:
− Land and takeoff in two directions
− Access the Barry M. Goldwater Range with live training munitions
− Fly instrument approaches at the Luke Auxiliary Field #1
− Perform patterns and landings at Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field
− Access and utilize Gladden/Bagdad Military Operating Areas
− Access Military Training Routes throughout the state
Read More
