Letter to editor: F-35B puts out too much noise
Letter to editor: F-35B puts out too much noise
The recent flurry of articles pushing the Marine Corps F-35B fighter coming to Beaufort makes me suspicious.
Why the push now when the final studies haven’t even been released? The public forum in 2009 ended up with a not-so-positive response to the deafening noise that accompanies these jets.
Local monitoring of the decibel level of the F-18 has shown ranges that can cause human deafness. The available studies on the F-35B indicate a much higher level, not “there won’t be much difference” as stated in the articles.
What effect this will have on the environment is not yet known. But “We want/need them” is all I’m hearing.
Lets get some facts first and think about the people and things who live under and near the airbase.
Sandy Stephan
Lady’s Island SC
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Comments
20 Responses to “Letter to editor: F-35B puts out too much noise”
In most cases the military put these airbases up far from civilization. Miles outside of established towns and cities.. It is those towns and cities that have encroached upon the airbases, and then you complain about the noise of something that you chose to live next to. If it were not for these bases, most of the towns they are associated with would not exist, or at least would not be as prosperous as they are. As civillians, if you dont like or want the sound of freedom around you, you have the freedom to leave, and the military have many places within a few miles they could move to, and still do thier job on the base. Our military has made sure that English is our national language.. I am sure our enemies would love to change that.
Where do you people that don’t want the jets plan to work after you have killed all the jobs in this town? Half the money that comes into northern Beaufort County comes from the base. We will have unemployment rates of 17% like Allendale.
With so many noise lovers here, it is a mystery to me that Vivians Is isn’t built out to capacity. Or could it be that maybe you noise lovers really don’t live in the flight path. Should you want to hear the real sound of freedom, go visit the MCRD PI rifle range. Now that’s the sound of freedom.
Oh and spare me the juvenile insanity of “the air station was already here”. Nanny nanny boo boo.
The Mayor, the city council and the Chamber of Commerce, in particular, are taking a passive role by accepting and supporting the Navy’s recommendation for Alternative 1. According to the Navy’s Environmental Impact Study, Alternative 3 provides significantly greater long term economic impact to Beaufort while at the same time minimizing the potential noise frequency levels. The small biz members that primarily comprise the Chamber membership along with the Mayor, city council and policiticans should take a more proactive role in supporting Alternative 3 that provides job creation while maintaining a healthy quality of life. I was born here.
Folks, have any of you ever heard of an OLF???? The state of SC has MANY square miles of vacant land in the eastern part of the state that can be used as an OUTLYING LANDING FIELD. (OLF). A study was made a few years ago about using that area for practice landing. Whatever became of that study and why can that not be considered now? As I recall, it would take 6 (six) minutes to fly from Beaufort to Aiken for practice. Keep the planes but send them to an OLF for practice. Thanks for reading.
As a native Beaufortonian my Dad and our family survived on a civil service job on the air station. As a veteran I spent four years serving in aviation squadrons. I just don’t think we should be so quick to issue a blank check on all these new squadrons without at least making a reasonable reality check on what we are asking for. Having served a tour of duty in a naval avation training squadron I know first hand that the mission is to fly, fly, fly! That’s not a bad thing but we have to realize the aircraft noise we have now will be doubled or tripled. Plus these new aircraft are still unknown to us from a decibel level standpoint. There is a good reason why other cities have said no thanks. Yes, we are pro military. Yes, we want some squadrons. No, we are not dumb enough to issue a blank check until we get the facts and have a reasonable idea what kind of neigbor is moving in next door. If we wait until after the fact then shame on us!
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/beaufort.htm
This link gives a great history of MCAS Beaufort. The Air Station and Beaufort are so intricately entwined, it would be a disgrace and anti-patriotic not to welcome the new jets. When you purchase a house in an ACUIZ zone, it’s not a secret, it is disclosed.
I would be very, very worried for our town if this based were closed. We fought hard for it back in the early 1990s. Remember the “Save Our Bases” stickers and banners? The people of Beaufort not only WANT the new jets, we NEED them and welcome them. It’s an honor having them here.
For those who oppose the jets, they are obviously not from around here and do not understand our special relationship with the military. We need to keep our bases that bring jobs, people and revenue.
I love my hometown and am very proud of our military. I can’t imagine opposing the F-35Bs. Those who do might look into a nice property in Bluffton or Hilton Head, or wherever they came from.
These new jets and the jobs that come with them should be a celebration.
I came to Beaufort with a military father over 50 years ago and the Air Station was already here. I respect the military efforts and am grateful for the dedication of the men and women who serve. The military needs their bases strategically positioned to best serve their needs and we are lucky that the Marine Corps still views our bases as necessary. Our community needs to be supportive of our bases and understand their importance to our economy. I am comfortable with the “Sound of Freedom” and am willing to adjust to possible changes in that “sound”.
I say bring on the jets!! The bases here help sustain our economy! We love our military and all they do for us. If you move to Beaufort, expect to hear a little jet noise…..or maybe you didn’t notice the HUGE jets adorning the entrance to MCAS as you drove down Hwy 21??!!! It is part of this great town!
Hello, people,
If the F-35s did not come to Beaufort, the town would shut down. With no military except for Parris Island, Beaufort would be just another one stoplight town in South Carolina.
Jets=money. Tourism alone cannot save Beaufort.
The decible count is from the F-35 manufacturer so do you expect them to say it’s noisier. Ask some of the surrounding communities at Eglin Air Force Base about noise. They had or still some lawsuits going over this issue. I’m a retired Marine and am all for having MCAS Beaufort and totaly support the Marines and what they do.
Phixer,
How can you ask Eglin AFB when they have no F-35′s yet? There are lawsuits there over the documented noise level from LM not from one flying there.
The decible levels quoated are from the aircraft manufacturer. This aircraft is much louder then the current F/A-18′s here at Beaufort, ask the surrounding communities around Eglin, Air Force Base , Florida.
I was born and raised here in Beaufort and I am so tired of people moving here and complaining about the jet noise. When I hear the jets flying over, I think of freedom and how safe I am because of the men and women in the military work and fight to protect me and this great nation everyday. If you don’t like the noise, leave.
Do you expect to change the outcome? The F-35 is coming and you don’t have a choice. The possibility of air noise is certain when you live near an air station.
Odds are the air station’s arrival in Beaufort probably preceded your arrival. This shouldn’t be a surprise, this noise, at any decibel level.
The reality is that fighter jets are getting forced out of most of their locations on the Atlantic seaboard. See Jacksonville and most likely in the very near future, Virginia Beach. If Beaufort has them now, we’re likely to be among the last ones holding the bag, seriously decreasing the probability they will go.
As for noise being a consideration, while I’ve never served in the armed forces, my guess is that how the aircraft serves its designed military purpose is the primary thrust of any evaluation. How much noise it makes doesn’t fall in that scope. At the minimum, it’s not anywhere near the top of the checklist.
The planes have taken off on this. You’re not going to change the Marine Corps’/Navy’s mind on F-35s at MCAS Beaufort.
So, that takes you to the next decision point. Should the Marine Corps go?
Would you like to live under our Marine jets or enemy jets?
AMEN!
When these planes go up its not for their own good or well being. They are training to go fight wars and protect our well being.
On top of that you decided to live here in the wonderful town of Beaufort, the home of MCAS Beaufort.
These planes are only eight decibels louder. That’s not going to be very noticeable.
With these new planes come new hangers, new air crews, new maintenance crews, and new pilots. All of this adds more money flow for Beaufort and adds to the security of keeping the air station here.
I was born and raised right here in Beaufort and am now stationed here as a Marine. I would like nothing more than to see these new planes come to town.
Just curious. Have any of the new F-35B’s overflown us yet out of MCAS? Only then would we be able to tell how their engine noise level compares to that for the F-18 Hornets.
I have just learned from a former USAF fighter pilot friend of mine who piloted United passenger jets for 20 years after he left the Service, that noise suppression for the F-35 afterburners (as are used on today’s passenger jets) may be possible, but the cost would be far from practical to install on the already hugely expensive F-35s. Grin and bear it, and get a set of earmuffs from CVS.