HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah - The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings will provide a 4-ship F-35A Lightning II flyover for the Utah Hockey Club's home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at The Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, shortly after 6:30 p.m.
This flyover will be in support of the inaugural game for the Utah Hockey Club, and the ongoing relationship between the base, team, and state of Utah. Residents in Salt Lake City should prepare for jet noise, as jets are planned to fly 1,000 feet above the stadium.
The 419th and 388th at Hill AFB fly and maintain a fleet of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both the active duty and reserve components. The F-35 is the nations most advanced fifth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft.
About the 388th Fighter Wing: The primary mission of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base is to fly and maintain the F-35A Lightning II aircraft worldwide in support of the national defense. The wing has deployed aircraft and airmen to the European and Pacific theaters of operations multiple times over the past 5 years. There are approximately 2,000 airmen and civilian professionals assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing.
About the 419th Fighter Wing: The 419th FW is made up of nearly 1,300 personnel. These "Citizen Airmen" serve part-time in the military but are full-time members of the local community. Most live, work, and raise families in Northern Utah. The 419th FW offers a diverse range of combat capability to include F-35 operations and maintenance, as well as full-spectrum mission support such as civil engineering, security forces, medical, aerial port, firefighting, supply, and transportation. The 419th FW was the first Air Force Reserve unit to fly the F-35A Lightning II alongside the 388th.