El Mirage has received many questions about the F-35, and the city’s position on the potential new mission for Luke Air Force Base. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions. Additional answers will be posted here frequently.

Why is the city opposed to the F-35? (Received from multiple sources)

This is incorrect. El Mirage is not opposed to the F-35, we are merely trying to figure out its impact – both good and bad. We are neutral about the potential F-35. We have questions about noise because this jet has been reported to be somewhere between two and six times as loud as an F-16. We’ve asked other Arizona cities for any information they have related to the F-35’s impact, and have also requested the Department of Defense test-fly two or more jets so that we can assess its impact on our residents.

You knew Luke Air Force Base was there when you bought your house. Why are you complaining now? (Received from multiple sources)

El Mirage has been a longstanding good neighbor of Luke Air Force Base. We have immense respect for its mission and the men and women who serve and work there. We are proud that many of them call El Mirage home. The F-35 proposed for Luke Air Force base is much louder than the F-16s that are flying overhead today or were flying when many of our residents bought their homes. We’re trying to figure out exactly how much louder. Our residents are concerned that their houses will lose value if much louder jets are flying overhead. And, they’ve asked whether they’ll be able to open their windows, or hear their televisions, or have a conversation in their backyard. These are basic quality-of-life questions, and we are trying to find our residents answers they deserve. The best case scenario would be for the F-35 to be comparable to the F-16. But all indication is that it will be somewhere been two and six times as loud, which for many residents, is much more than they bargained for.

The F-35 is already flying, how come we don’t have a definitive answer as to the noise factor. Also [other jets] have had their share of accidents. The F-35 being similar technology, is it going to be accident prone? (R.G., submitted question at forum)

An Environmental Impact Study has yet to be conducted for Luke Air Force Base regarding the F-35. The City of El Mirage has requested the military conduct a thorough EIS, which includes test-flying two or more F-35s so impacts, including crash dangers, can be measured.