Times and addresses have been announced for five public meetings next month on the F-35 possibly coming to Luke Air Force Base.

The meetings are hosted in communities near the Glendale base and its operations. Luke is one of five bases on a short list to train pilots on the Joint Strike Fighter, the next generation of fighter jets.

The meetings are for governmental agencies and residents to help identify the scope of issues to be addressed during the environmental study of Luke. The study could take up to a year to complete.

Attendees at the meetings also will get an introduction to the F-35, its capabilities and mission, and how it will be integrated at Luke, according to Luke Forward, a state coalition of supporters to land the aircraft at the base. Luke pumps $2 billion a year into the state’s economy.

The Air Force is expected to make a final decision in early 2011 on where to site the jets with delivery of the aircraft beginning in 2013.

Public Scoping Meeting Schedule:

CITY	ADDRESS	DATES AND TIMES
Gila Bend	Gila Bend Unified School District, 308 N. Martin Ave.	6-9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22
El Mirage	RC Roberts Memorial Building at Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort, 11201 N. El Mirage Road.	6-9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23
Surprise	Communiversity@Surprise, 15850 West Civic Center Plaza.	6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24
Wickenburg	Wickenburg High School Media Center, 1090 S. Vulture Mine Road.	6-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25
Litchfield Park	Wigwam Resort, 300 Wigwam Blvd.	6-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26

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