JUST IN: @usairforce confirms that @SecAFOfficial, @GenDaveGoldfein and CMSAF Gen. Kaleth Wright just touched down at @TeamTyndall to survey the damage from #hurricanemicheal. About 600 military families have been displaced, and as many as 17 F-22s may be damaged or destroyed.
UPDATE: an Air Force official tells me USAF assessed the damage at Tyndall today, including F-22s that weathered the storm. All aircraft are intact and initial indications are “promising.”
Officials will take “detailed maintenance assessments” before they can say with certainty that all damaged aircraft can be repaired, but sounds like things aren’t as bad as initially feared
You might be wondering why the F-22s were not evacuated. Most were, but a number remained behind for maintenance and safety reasons. Some were awaiting spare parts, etc. “They were secured in the highest storm rated hangars,” the official said.
The F-22 is a very large plane - not easy to trailer. And there was not much warning - #Michael was initially supposed to be a tropical storm for Tyndall before it took a direct hit, the official says
