Bases aim for air-combat jets, some fear noise

The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is tardy, over budget and its jet engine roar could eclipse planes it's due to replace.

Even so, Air Force officials at eleven bases in seven states _ and civilian leaders in surrounding communities _ aim to convince Pentagon brass to choose them for the latest air-combat bling.

For bases, getting the planes could mean survival in a post-Cold War …