Many West Valley residents decked out in T-shirts and wearing stickers displayed their support Tuesday night in El Mirage for Luke Air Force Base becoming the home of the new F-35 fighter jets, but others had concerns about the effects the revamped mission would have on their neighborhoods.

Inga Herbert and her husband, Harry, who live in Sun City Grand, said they needed to find out more about the F-35 jets, before they make a decision to support the base having the fighter planes.The couple lives in the path of the F-16 flight patterns and believes it’s already noisy enough.

The Air Force will replace the F-16s with the F-35s and is considering several locations across the country, including Luke in Glendale.

"When we moved here, we knew there would be noise, but F-35s will be twice as loud," said Inga Herbert, who is also worried about her property values. "It’s bad now that we can’t talk when we sit outdoors and have a decent conversation."

The Herberts were among many at the first of two scoping sessions conducted by the Department of Defense where residents had the opportunity to get more information on the F-35 fighter jets, its capabilities and how the planes would be integrated into Luke as the F-16 is phased out.

The next meeting will be tonight at 6 at the Communiversity@Surprise, 15860 W. Civic Center Plaza in Surprise.

Tuesday night, U.S. Air Force officials were on hand to answers questions and take concerns during the session at the Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort. Those comments will be used as part of an environmental impact analysis of the F-35s at the Glendale base.

Ursula Borck of Sun City said she was against the F-35s until more studies are done to ensure they aren’t too noisy.

"Before someone can make an intelligent decision, they should have these planes fly over us. Right now I’m against it," Borck said as she filled out the scoping meeting comment form.

Supporters of the fighter jets at Luke believe if the planes aren’t located at the base, the local economy would be affected adversely.

Local organizations, such as the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, supported Luke’s effort to lure the F-35.

So did Jerry Bick, an El Mirage resident and World War II veteran. Bick said he’s in favor of the F-35s and doesn’t mind the noise that it would bring to the area.

"In order for us to stay maintained and safe, we must have a good Air Force, and that’s what they’re trying to do by using Luke for the F-35s," Bick said.

The city of El Mirage is the lone West Valley municipality withholding its support of the new mission for Luke because of questions about noise, but one of its council members said Tusday night that he fully supports the effort to keep Luke open and active.

"We certainly don’t need more job losses than we already have, and that’s what would happen if the base shuts down," Councilman Roy Delgado said.

Joe Manning, president of the Peoria chapter of the Firefighters Union Local 493, said he agrees that losing Luke would have a negative economic impact.

"This could be terrible because so many people will lose their jobs," said Manning, who attended the scoping meeting with other members of the union. "We really support the mission of Luke and how it relates to the people. Just like firefighters, the Air Force is out on the line protecting us."

On the surface, Glendale resident Luisa Bailey said the F-35s will be beneficial, but she needed more information from the scoping sessions.

"Some people, like myself, don’t know enough to make up their minds," she said. "I’m not concerned yet until I have enough info, but I like the idea so far."

Barbara and Gary Byler, who have land in an unincorporated area west of Surprise, said they’re not opposed to the F-35s, but upset with the base infringing up on their property rights.

The couple lives less than a mile from Auxiliary One Field near Wittmann. Barbara Byler said that is where they test the instruments but don’t touch down, and the planes fly directly over their home.

She said she and her husband "never complained, until they put these noise corridors over our home." And while people were encouraged to come to the West Valley to live, she said, they could pay a price for the move. Barbary Byler said that Maricopa County officials passed a bill that would prohibit the Bylers — and others in her area who are under airport flight contours — from rebuilding if 75 percent of their home is destroyed.

"We’re not against the Air Force," she said, adding: "We’re supposed to have individual rights. My husband is a vet. He left a leg and arm in Vietnam to protect this country."