BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - The Green Mountain Boys got their new wings on This Day in History.

The first two F-35 fighter jets arrived at the Burlington Airport on September 19th, 2019.

The Vermont Air National Guard was the first Guard unit in the country to get the next-generation stealth fighters.

The move to transition from the Guard’s F-16 fleet was years in the making and continues to face fierce opposition from many neighbors, activist groups and local governments, primarily over noise.

Efforts to mitigate the noise in nearby homes continue today.

Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.

See Full Page