Hurricane Isaias is forcing the U.S. Air Force to move fighter jets, special operations aircraft, and other military assets out of the storm’s path as it closes in on the Gulf Coast. F-35 Lightning IIs, AC-130J Ghostriders, and several other aircraft types have been relocated from bases in Florida and Mississippi, while commercial airports and airlines are preparing for major disruptions.
The storm reached Category 3 strength Friday, October 9, with sustained winds of 120 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center’s 1 p.m. Central advisory, Isaias was approximately 145 miles south of Pensacola, Florida, moving north-northeast at 16 mph. Landfall is expected Friday evening, with dangerous winds, storm surge, and flooding threatening much of the northern Gulf Coast.
Air Force Moves F-35 Fighters and Special Operations Aircraft Inland
Several Air Force installations began moving aircraft Thursday as the hurricane intensified over the Gulf of Mexico. Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida was among the first to begin evacuating aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighters assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing. Tyndall has good reason to take hurricanes seriously. In 2018, Hurricane Michael devastated the installation, damaging hangars, facilities, and numerous aircraft. The base has spent years rebuilding, and moving its operational aircraft away from another major hurricane is an obvious precaution…