In case you missed it, there is an announcement in the Daily Bulldog classified section about hearings by the Air Force to possibly base F-35 fighter jets at Burlington, Vermont.
You should care for several reasons.
For the past three years the Massachusetts Air National Guard has proposed action that would allow low level jet flights over western Maine. The Mass ANG logic and facts are flawed but that has not slowed them down.
And never, until this announcement, have they mentioned the F-35.
It just so happens that the F-35 is TWICE AS LOUD as the aircraft in the current Environmental Impact Statement and would certainly fly here. Even if you think flying F-35s over western Maine at 500 feet above the ground is a good idea, give some thought to the way the Air National Guard is manipulating regulatory process.
So, little by little the plan unfolds. First, get the airspace modified without doing adequate study and then bring in the loud jets as a “done deal.”
If you have been undecided about this issue now its time to connect the dots, get off the fence, and do something about it.
Tom Mauzaka
Strong, Maine
Thanks Tom,
The outrageousness continues and your diligence is appreciated!
I beleive you got your facts wrong, the f-35 is twice as loud on take off and even loader on landing. Other than that it is not louder than any other aircraft but the same. I just searched it.
Dear Tom,
I don’t like where this is headed …..so help us out. What do we need to do? Write letters, make phone calls, what will be effective to fight this off?
Sorry, this is incorrect.
First, the initial concerns over noise were not for noise during cruising (as they would be over our MOA)…only vertical takeoff/landing which uses a third horizontally mounted engine. These concerns dated back to the aircraft’s early development phases and were never based on real world testing.
When considering this very issue, the Royal Australian Air Force in conjuction with Lockheed commissioned a series of extensive tests to evaluate the noise at all points of operation. The findings clearly proved that noise levels were no higher than existing aircraft.
In fact, these tests suggest that the final F-35 will be able to operate QUIETER in both takeoff/landing and cruising scenarios. This is because all weapons and ECMs are internally mounted which eliminates the need for full afterburner takeoffs even when fully armed and loaded.
Do the research, and then try again.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/F35-031209.xml
Read the notice and saw no mention of Maine flights. So what is the big deal? Being alert to an event in another State that has nothing to do with Maine is not brilliant in my mind!
In case you hadn’t noticed we’re at war. Deal with it. If the most you have to deal with is some extra noise while you’re sitting around watching TV then you should be grateful. These pilots have to constanty train as lives on the ground depend on their proficiency.
I’m sad to see the “NIMBY” (not in my back yard) attitude from people in our area. The idea that this is a bad thing and the noise would bother people is an affront to the military.
This training is essential for our national security. Have you forgotten 9/11 and the nearly 3,000 people killed by jetliners used as weapons against us? I want our military to be trained and ready for the next attack.
“Twice as loud…” Give me a break!
I am so disappointed in my hometown! You folks sound like the people who say “I don’t want a gun, so nobody can have one.” I left the area 20 years ago when I joined the military. With the “NIMBY” attitude, as Jim put it, you are forcing the military to spend more money on the training of our pilots. The military would have to send the aircraft and pilots potentially thousands of miles away to get adequate training. If you think that they don’t need low level training, you have no clue as to what you are talking about, and need to do more research. I hope the route is allowed so you may enjoy the “Sound of Freedom”! I have seen where environmentalists tried to stop the expansion of a range in the west because they were scared that the antelope would be too scared to reproduce. However, the expansion took place, and the antelope herd is larger than before! Just some food for thought!
NIMBY please.
Thanks for explaining reality to the good folks of Maine Jim and Mark. Well said.