In the Zone: Voices from the F-35 debate

South Burlington’s Chamberlin neighborhood sits just west of the Burlington International Airport and the Vermont Air National Guard base.

In the fall of 2019, the Air Force plans to station 18 F-35 fighter jets at the base. Residents are concerned about how the jets will affect their neighborhood, which has already seen decades of changes related to the airport’s expansion. The decision to move forward with the project set off years of intense public debate.

In this podcast, hear from people who have been a part of that debate: members of organized campaigns opposing the F-35, neighbors concerned about future home buyouts, and vocal supporters of the basing. Many have differing views on the planes — but all expect that within a few years, the airport neighborhood will look very different from today.