Press release from Tucson Police Dept:

City of Tucson Communications center received an estimated 90 calls in to 911, beginning at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2012. The multitude of callers reported experiencing, what was described by some as a “sonic boom,” and others as an “explosion.” Most of the callers reported their houses or business buildings shook, and callers also reported damage, primarily consisting of broken windows, to their residences and businesses following the extremely loud noise.

The areas affected were those all along East Pima Road, areas near East Fort Lowell Road and North Dodge Boulevard, and along North Wilmot Road, between Grant and Pima.

The Tucson Police Department is currently investigating the reports involving damage to residences and businesses.

Additionally, Davis Monthan Air Force Base Legal Department is accepting calls from those wishing to report damage related to this event. The phone number provided for reporting is (520) 228-5242.

Contact: Linda Galindo
Sergeant / Public Information Office TDD: 791-2639
520-791-4852
On-call PIO: tucsonpdpio@gmail.com
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/police

More from KVOA Channel 4: http://www.kvoa.com/news/danger-zone-sonic-boom-rattles-midtown/

“Anyone who wants to file a claim due to property damage is asked to call the 355th Fighter Wing Claims office at 520-954-0146 or its public affairs office at 520-228-3406.”

Apparently one of Davis Monthan’s air force jet demonstrations for this weekend’s air show broke the sound barrier & thereby caused this sonic boom. The show is called The Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona 2012 Open House.

Democracy for America (DFA), Tucson chapter is hosting a panel discussion on the F-35, the Joint Strike Fighter Jet, on Wed. Feb. 10. This event will be at the Ward 6 Council office, 3202 E. 1st St. at 7 p.m. For website info, click here. DFA claims it is a “grassroots powerhouse delivering results for a progressive America and reforming the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.”

The event notice says it is to “Learn how loud the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Jet is and why there are few fixes if it is based in Tucson, the mitigation myth, what you should ask for, and what you can do.”

F-35 jet

The Ward 6 office is located at the SE corner of E. 1st and Anderson Blvd, one block east of N. Country Club, one block south of E. Speedway.

For information in opposition to the F-35, see www.tucsonforward.com. The website says this newly-formed Tucson Forward group’s mission is “defending our community from the F-35.”

I also received an email from Ward 6 office informing us that Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB) will be hosting “open house” meetings to report on the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) related to the F-35 mission being proposed for Tucson International Airport (TIA).
Here is a schedule of those upcoming meetings, from March 1 to 5, all 6 to 9 p.m.

1-Mar 2010
Sunnyside High School Foyer/Auditorium
1725 E. Bilby Road
Tucson, AZ 85706

2-Mar 2010
San Carlos High School Cafeteria
Milepost 270 Highway 70
San Carlos, AZ 85550

3-Mar 2010
Eastern Arizona College
Gila/Galiuro Room, Activities Center
1014 N. College Avenue
Thatcher, AZ 85552

4-Mar 2010
Bisbee High School Cafeteria
475 School Terrace Road
Bisbee, AZ 85603

5-Mar 2010
Roskruge Elementary School Auditorium
501 E. Sixth Street
Tucson, AZ 85705

For additional information in support of Davis Monthan’s F-35 project entitled Tucson Lightning– “intended to give Southern Arizonans a vehicle to voice their support for the proposed F-35 Lightning II training mission for the 162nd Fighter Wing at the airport” visit their link: http://www.162fw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123187221. New website for pro-F35 is http://www.tucsonf35.com/

It may be time to find out more about this F-35 jet, and what it’s impact on Tucson will be. Attend these meetings to inform yourselves and your neighbors. Hopefully all your questions will be answered.

3/5/10 update: If you missed these meetings, send your input by April 5 to:
Mr. David Martin
HQ AETC/A7C
266 F Street West, Bldg 901
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4319
FAX: 210-652-4266
Copies of the comment form can be downloaded at www.F-35ATrainingEIS.com.

7/30/10 UPDATE: Luke AFB in Glendale selected over TIA: http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/07/30/f-35-to-be-flying-at-luke-afb-not-tia/