Fla. town on the defensive against noisy F-35

[308Mike]

Linkarooni

Fla. town on the defensive against noisy F-35

By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 10, 2008 11:24:50 EDT

The noise of the Joint Strike Fighter’s engines could be turning into a roaring problem in Florida.

At issue is the Defense Department’s plan to open the joint F-35 pilot and maintenance school at Eglin Air Force Base in 2010. Plans call for the school to be home to 2,326 military and civilian personnel.

But civic leaders in the town of Valparaiso, about a mile from Eglin’s runways, became concerned when they learned the F-35 Lightning II is predicted to be twice as loud as the F-15 Eagles and F-16s Fighting Falcons that now fly in and out of Eglin. More than 120 F-35 takeoffs are likely each day, and noise levels will reach 65 to 75 decibels as the jets pass over Valparaiso.

More..............

[mekender]

there has been a base at that location since 1935... i would bet that almost every person that owns a house in that town has bought it since then (showing 8.5% of households have someone over 65 in them)... they buy a house 1 mile from a major AFB and then complain about the noise... the AF should tell them to go pound sand

[Draven]

Those predictions only apply when the F-35 is in VTOL. it won't be 'flying over Valparaiso' in VTOL. The USMC model is the only one with VTOL.

[Termite]

Some of the finest beach property in western Florida(aka the "Emerald Coast) belongs to the Air Force, and is mostly offlimits.
Unless you're a Ranger candidate, going thru your "swamp phase" training at Camp Rudder. Then you get to go to one of those beaches..... to practice beach landings in your RB-15, NOT to lay around, drink beer, and oogle the chicks.

[Draven]

Well, the Fed needs to make everyone within the radius of jet noise sign a notice when taking residence saying "I know military jets fly here and I'll just suck it up."

[Wrenchbender1]

The same thing is happening to the range I go to back home. People move next to an obviously marked Archery/Pistol/Rifle/Civil War Field Artillery range and complain about noise.

[NVGdude]

Guys, I like jet noise as much as anyone. (I work on a USAF Base)

Be advised though that the F-35 has the highest thrust engine ever developed for a fighter, as such is is a LOT louder than an F-16 or F-15.

The USMC Jump version is even louder. Its (significantly) louder than a freaking Harrier. Noise mitigation and environmental impact from these things is actually a serious matter.

[Highspeed]

The loudest thing I have ever heard was a Harrier, with the second loudest being an F-104 in full afterburner doing maybe 600mph at 500ft.

Back in the 80's when the USAF operated a lot of bases here we'd get F-15's and F-111's over my house regularly, together with the usual Tornado's and Hawks ( plus FGR Phantoms and the legendary English Electric Lightning when I was a kid ) - but they were always at cruising altitude by then, some other poor soul had to cope with them taking off over their property.
I have always been of the attitude that military jet noise is the sound of your freedom being defended, but then I didn't have to live with it 24/7

[randy]

Guys, I like jet noise as much as anyone. (I work on a USAF Base)

Be advised though that the F-35 has the highest thrust engine ever developed for a fighter, as such is is a LOT louder than an F-16 or F-15.

The USMC Jump version is even louder. Its (significantly) louder than a freaking Harrier. Noise mitigation and environmental impact from these things is actually a serious matter.

I'm all for noise mitigation and such for the protection of the flight line troops if nothing else.

But anyone that voluntarily buys a house near an existing airfield and the bitches about the noise is an idiot. An ungrateful idiot if it's near a military airfield.

Either move or STFU, but don't expect any sympathy from me. Personally I miss not being near an active flight line. Being under the overhead pattern of C-5s from WPAFB just doesn't cut it for me.

[Lokidude]

I have always been of the attitude that military jet noise is the sound of your freedom being defended, but then I didn't have to live with it 24/7

My father has said the exact same thing for many years. Every time somebody griped about having to pause a conversation for jets to fly over, they got reminded. To this day, pausing for the jets just comes naturally.