There is a political battle going on at the northern end of Vermont that could have an impact on those of us down here. The Air Force would like to use South Burlington as a base for an expensive, loud new plane: the F-35.
How loud? 400% as loud as the F-16.
Folks up in Burlington have been rightfully upset by the Air Force studies showing that up to 3,000 homes and 7,000 people will be within an area “generally not considered suitable for residential use.” The noise levels will raise blood pressure and stress hormones in children according to the Environmental Impact Statement done for the project.
The planes will be serviced in Texas, so Vermont doesn’t benefit from maintenance jobs.
Opponents point out that an emergency fuel dump would be into Lake Champlain, a larger crash area would surround the airport, and that it is a waste of money for an unnecessary system.
Let’s go back to the bit about it being loud, though. We’ve all seen and heard military planes fly over Brattleboro. If the F-35 is based in Burlington, it seems reasonable to think they’d fly over us from time to time.
I was in Boston when they decided to fly an F-22 stealth bomber over a baseball game. They didn’t warn anyone, so those of us in the flight path heard what sounded like a plane about to crash onto our homes. It was the loudest thing I ever heard, and I was almost under a mattress when I realized it had kept flying. Only later did I find out what it was.
Lockheed Martin says the F-35 is about that loud. It will make people in the South Burlington area miserable on a daily basis. It will drive them crazy.
So, it seems we should, at minimum, lend some moral support from the southern part of the state for the F-35 struggles north of us. Let’s pay attention to the F-35 issue (BCTV has been running some great footage from Burlington on the issue) and, if so inclined, help out where we can.
Not a Problem For Southern Vermont
For many years I lived in Rome, NY, which at the time was host of Griffiss Air Force Base. We always had B-52’s, KC-135’s, and F-106’s dashing about overhead, and let me tell you a B-52 is massively loud, as are the older KC-135’s. Yet the town fully supported the base, and so did I. Sure there were times when I had to tell somebody on the phone to hold on until an overflight passed, but that was just a rare part of life, and was no worse than living next to a major highway. Did those airplanes ever give me headaches, or raise my blood pressure? Nope. Was I ever worried that they would crash into my house? Nope. Did they cause me or the kids in town any stress? Nope. In fact, I rather enjoyed watching them, and that was especially so for the fighters as they passed overhead in formation.
Like it or not, Air Force bases are necessary. We can argue about the number of airplanes and their cost, but the core function of the Air Force is necessary. I’d like the military to shrink by a lot, but it is part of our national defense, and it’s supported by Congress, so let’s recognize that it exists and will exist well into the future. Keeping the Air Force out of Vermont doesn’t make it go away or get any smaller. If shrinking the military is your objective, then the proper and effective forum is Congress, not Burlington.
Adding F-35’s will bring improvements to the host airport, and will add a bit of long-term security to airport funding. It also supports jobs, and adds some economic benefit to the region.
The F-35’s that might be based at the Burlington airport are just airplanes, and although they are a bit louder than commercial jets, they don’t fly as often, and their effect in the Burlington area will be negligible. Their effect in Southern Vermont will be non-existent.
Seriously, there are a whole lot of issues and problems facing Southern Vermont. The addition of a cutting edge fighter jet to the ramp at Burlington Airport isn’t one of them.
Those aren't F-35's, though
B-52’s and other planes are quiet compared to the F-35’s. This is 4x louder than a stealth bomber. An F-35 can reach 120 dB.
120 dB has side effects to humans.
The planes could be located at a desert air facility if they are necessary, which many people say they are not. It’s an overprice clunker that has had continual problems and even hawkish members of Congress want the plane’s production stopped.
There is no reason they need to be in Vermont. They won’t be maintained here.
This isn’t about stopping any air base in Vermont. A different plane in Burlington, maybe, but there are many reasons to say no to the F-35.
I think we should support the folks in Burlington, just as we’d want their support down here if we had a similar issue.
It’s not about the noise; it’s about the Russians!
(The “Evil Empire” – Remember?).
The shortest way to Moscow is over the North Pole. ( And these planes WILL be equipped with NUCLEAR missiles!)
But why the Russians? I thought the Cold War was over?
Well, that’s the stuff of Conspiracy Theory!
For more information, visit the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse at http://www.nonoise.org or contact Les D. Blomberg Executive Director Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (NPC) PO Box 1137 Montepelier, VT 05601-1137 (802) 229-1659 – Office les@nonoise.org npc@nonoise.org .
Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.
Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart – Environmental Noise
Weakest sound heard 0dB
Whisper Quiet Library at 6′ 30dB
Jackhammer at 50′ 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 – 95dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB
Amplifier, rock, 4-6′ 120dB
Pain begins 125dB
Jet engine at 100′ 140dB
12 Gauge Shotgun Blast 165dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB
(The above information is from National Hearing Conservation Association http://hearingconservation.org)