HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Communities surrounding Hill Air Force Base will notice increased flying Sept. 9-12 as the base’s fighter wings conduct a large combat exercise.
The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing will fly roughly 80 sorties per day, 20 more than on a normal flying day.
Maintainers will be tasked with continually providing ready aircraft and pilots will take off in waves to simulate a large force engagement with enemy aircraft.
During the exercise, aircraft will take off from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last aircraft scheduled to land before dark.
The 388th and 419th are the Air Force first combat-capable F-35A units. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill in October 2015. The wings fly and maintain the jet in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.