KBOI News/Talk 670 - Boise, Idaho

Idaho military installations won't get an initial share of the U.S. Air Force's new jet, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. 
Bases in Utah, Vermont and Arizona won a first installment of the single-engine jets, whose costs now run $113 million per plane.  Idaho officials hoped to lure the jets to Gowen Field in Boise and Mountain Home Air Force Base.  But Idaho's congressional delegation confirmed Thursday the Air Force ``is recommending sites outside of Idaho in the initial recommendations for operations and training for the F-35.'' 
Operational missions would go to Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont; for training, the Air Force is recommending Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. 
Gowen is one of two finalists for the C-27J Spartan cargo plane. The other is Great Falls, Mont. 
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