An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet takes off during Astral Knight 2019 on June 3, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, Airmen, and associated equipment to Aviano Air Base, Italy, from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jim Araos)

F-35A demo team to shift from Arizona base to Utah

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AP) — The Air Force is moving its demonstration team for the F-35A fighter to Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah from Luke Air Force Base in metro Phoenix.

The single-jet demonstration team conducts flights at airshows to display the capabilities of the F-35A, a relatively new aircraft now entering operational service in significant numbers.

Officials said the team will be assigned to Hill beginning with the 2020 airshow season when it will conduct approximately 20 performances between March and November.

Hill is an Air Combat Command base that is home to two fighter wings whose pilots fly the F-35A while Luke is an Air Education and Training Command base where pilots are learning how to fly the aircraft.