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Luke Air Force Base Opens New Training Center

October 15, 2014 By Jeff Cameron

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Luke Air Force Base Opens New Training Center

A 47 million dollar Academic Training Center opens this week at the Luke Airforce Base in Glendale, Arizona.  The training center is the Air Force’s flight school for the next generation fighter jet, the F-35.   Luke Airforce base is the biggest F-35 base of any sort world-wide.  It is also the premier location for a training center because of its good weather, similar desert terrain, and close proximity to the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

The Academic Training Center, has been given the acronym ATC. Before unfolding more about this multi million dollar ATC, let us tell you more about the F-35.

The F-35 is the most advanced fighter jet ever built and is the ultimate air defense system of the United States.  It costs just under $132 million per air craft to make.  The engines are made by Pratt &Whitney and planes are made by Lockheed Martin. The Pentagon says the F-35 combines superior acceleration, agility and maneuverability with unprecedented and integrated sensor, targeting and communication systems.  This is the ultimate fighting machine in the sky.

Now with the cost of each F-35 in mind, a 47 million dollar training center doesn’t sound too pricey.  And, this is the price we pay to wake up every day and know that our brave men and women of our country will be protecting us in places like Iraq, Syria, Africa, and the Philippines.

With an expensive aircraft, an expensive training facility hosting expensive equipment is required.  We fly the best. We need to train in the best facilities.

We discovered what the Air Force got for 47 million dollars.

  • a two story building with 145,000 square feet
  • a building made of stone and tinted glass
  • it features rooflines that resemble airplane wings
  • classrooms
  • auditoriums
  • administration space
  • developed with an infrastructure to accommodate systems of communication
  • bays for 12 computerized flight simulators
And, that is just the building.  Yes, that is correct.  A $47 million building.
The Air Force has a separate bill, above the 47 million dollar building, for many additional key items.  These include the cost for flight simulators, computers, telephones, office furniture and other office equipment.  It makes me wonder what the final bill will be after all the expenses are paid.
What is yet to come?
  • 2 flight simulators will be added in a few weeks. May 4, 2015 to be exact.
  • 2 additional flight simulators to be added summer of 2015
  • the final 8 simulators are scheduled to be added in a few more years
Flight simulators give the pilots the same look, feel and reaction as real fighter jets.  Some examples of what the flight simulator offers are weather conditions, equipment failures, and enemy attacks.  Experienced pilots will need about three months to get certified on the F-35 with these simulators.  However, new pilot training will take longer.  New pilot training will start around 2016.
Anticipated awards?  With the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines in mind, it is expected that a silver rating will be awarded.  This means the building falls within a environmentally friendly atmosphere.
Interesting fact: Frank Luke Jr was born is Phoenix on January 1st, 1897. He was an American fighter ace and 2nd ranking among US Army Air Service pilots.
Looking to relocate to the metro Phoenix area?  We are your Realtor of choice and are here to assist you in all your real estate needs.
Jeff & Lisa Cameron 480-652-2004
Tiffany Incardona 480-277-5755
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Filed Under: Community Info Tagged With: academic training center, arizona news, f-35 fighter jet, flight simulators, luke airforce base, Metro Phoenix, million dollar training center, pilots

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