Tyndall Air Force Base Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Storm
Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm.
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron takes off at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, March 1, 2024. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Tyndall Air Force Base has temporarily relocated its F-35 fleet in preparation for Hurricane Helene, which turned into a Category 4 storm as it made landfall on Thursday evening in the Florida Panhandle.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Helene would likely bring heavy rainfall and “devastating hurricane-force winds” inland to north Florida and Georgia on Friday.
A spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine Tyndall’s 95th Fighter Squadron relocated its F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada ahead of the storm warnings, noting that they will remain safe there until conditions improve at Tyndall. Meanwhile, officials at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia also evacuated its HH-60 combat rescue helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to ensure their safety.
According to reports, Tyndall is still undergoing reconstruction due to damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018, which tore apart hangars and damaged several F-22 Raptors, causing some $5 billion in damage. Fortunately, Tyndall officials do not anticipate major disruptions from Helene.
Tyndall remains closed to non-mission-essential staff.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.
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