EGLIN AFB — A half-dozen F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets arrived here Tuesday as aircraft and personnel from units of the 325th Fighter Wing at hurricane-damaged Tyndall Air Force Base began their operational transition.

In all, 31 Raptors are headed to Eglin Air Force Base as Tyndall some 70 miles to the east continues to rebuild in the wake of last month's Category 4 Hurricane Michael, which made a direct hit on Tyndall on Oct. 10, according to Eglin spokesman Andy Bourland. Bourland could not say when all the F-22s from Tyndall will be at Eglin.

While some missions will return to Tyndall within the next couple months, the 43rd Fighter Squadron, the 2nd Fighter Squadron and Detachment 4 of the 372nd Training Squadron are moving to Eglin for the foreseeable future.

The 43rd Fighter Squadron trains F-22 pilots, the 372nd Training Squadron's Detachment 4 provides F-22 maintenance training, and the 2nd Fighter Squadron, flying the T-38 Talon, provides air-to-air combat training as part of F-22 training.

The 31 Raptors will be kept largely on the base's 33rd Fighter Wing flight line, according to Bourland. Most, if not all, the 18 T-38 Talon training aircraft likely can also be accommodated at Eglin, he added.

Along with the aircraft will come pilots and maintenance and support personnel. According to Bourland, 525 people from the three units will report to work at Eglin over the next four months. But that's likely not the total number of personnel who will work at the base, he added.

"I do think that number will get larger over the summer," said Bourland, who estimated the move could bring as many as 800 people.

Leadership from Eglin and Tyndall met throughout last week at Eglin to discuss the transition, Bourland said. The meetings went well, but leaders are "still working through a lot of details," he added.

For instance, it's not yet precisely clear what impact the transition will have on the local community. It's possible, Bourland said, that not all of the 800 personnel expected to come to Eglin over the next several months will move to the immediate area. Some might prefer to stay in the Panama City area.

However, Eglin officials have met with representatives of the Okaloosa County School District and the local real estate community to discuss the potential impact of a large number of airmen and their families moving to the community.

Meetings also are planned with representatives of the Walton County and Santa Rosa County school districts, Bourland said.