F-35 fighter jets flew into Madison over summer, chamber of commerce says

According to a spokesperson with the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, there has already been an F-35 fighter jet presence in Madison.

Erik Greenfield said Thursday afternoon that the aircraft made at least three unscheduled arrivals and departures to and from Truax Field this summer, between late July and mid-August.

The dates and times were as follows:

July 28, 2019: 1 F-35 departed at 4:58 p.m.
August 13, 2019: 2 F-35s arrived at 6:08 p.m.
August 13, 2019: 1 F-35 arrived at 8:30 p.m.
August 14, 2019: 1 F-35 departed at 10:13 a.m.
August 14, 2019: 2 F-35s departed at 12:20 p.m.

This comes as a Wisconsin delegation that includes Madison Democratic Representative Chris Taylor is visiting Burlington, Vermontto talk to residents there about the jets’ impact. There are currently two F-35s at the airbase in Burlington. The United States Air Force is considering basing similar aircraft with Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field.

Taylor told 27 News that residents near the Burlington base described the noise as “an all-body experience.”

Both Taylor and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) have called for the United States Air Force to have F-35s fly above Madison so that people living near the base can assess the aircraft’s sound level.

Opponents of basing the jets in Madison believe they will be significantly louder and detrimental to people living near the airbase.