Skelton Wants New Planes at Whiteman

West-Central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton wants the nation’s newest stealth fighter plane stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base at Knob Noster. Skelton’s district includes Whiteman. Skelton has talked with the Pentagon about his idea to station part of the F-22 fleet at Whiteman. TheF-22 is now being tested by Lockheed-Martin. The jet fighter is designed to fly sorties ahead of B-2 stealth bombers. The nation’s B-2 fleet is stationed at Whiteman and Skelton argues it would be a natural fit to base some of the F-22 fighters there as well. The Air Force has not indicated when it will make a decision on Skelton’s suggestion.