Bearers of good, bad noise

Newport News Daily Press ^ | July 24 2005 | JIM HODGES

[FreedomCalls]

The difference between Langley Air Force Base and Oceana Naval Air Station on the base closure list is a case of sound and fury.

Every nine minutes or so, an F-15 or F/A-22 comes in over Back River at about 245 mph on a path that's gradual and shallow and which leads to the softest, quietest touchdown possible.

Col. Tom Tinsley calls it a "don't-spill-the-coffee-on-the-guy-in-first-class" landing.

The pilot cuts power, works the brakes and eventually coasts to a stop on an adjoining concrete parking lot.

Langley Air Force base has received five complaints this year from people who say their lives are disrupted by the noise. Two came from western Virginia, where there wasn't an Air Force plane within 100 miles at the time.

To the southeast of Langley, 26 miles as the Hornet flies, every two and a half minutes, an F-18 comes in at a hard angle over Virginia Beach Boulevard and slams down hard on the concrete runway to dissipate energy. The pilot then pours on the afterburner, raw fuel spilling into jet exhaust to push the plane back into the air with a roar that makes a rock concert in an arena sound like "shuush!" in a library.

Oceana Naval Air Station is under assault from Citizens Concerned About Jet Noise, a citizens group that claims 5,000 members who complain constantly, both to the base and to Washington.

The difference in how they fly their airplanes offers insight into why Langley is on the military's favored roll and Oceana was added to the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure list on Tuesday.

[FreedomCalls]

I love the sound of jet fighters in the morning. It's the sound of ... "freedom."

[My2Cents]

Langley Air Force base has received five complaints this year from people who say their lives are disrupted by the noise.

Then move!....Good grief! I love the sound of jets overhead. We live on approach to Travis Air Force Base, and the high-pitched whine of the four TF39 turbofan engines on the C-5 are not only the sound of freedom, but the sound of economic prosperity for the communities that surround the air base.

[My2Cents]

Oceana Naval Air Station is under assault from Citizens Concerned About Jet Noise, a citizens group that claims 5,000 members who complain constantly

Question: How long has the NAS been there, and how long have these whiners lived in the neighborhood?

[Moose4]

And where the hell are they going to base the Atlantic Fleet's fighter wings out of if they close Oceana? Good grief, people are IDIOTS!

I was in Virginia Beach the day the Theodore Roosevelt sent her air wings back onshore from their deployment in the First Gulf War. Let me tell you, it was loud as hell in VB that day, and I loved every second of it! I even kept walking outside from the computer installation job I was doing just to get a look at F-14s, F/A-18s, and A-6s flying over. Heck, we used to get fighters (Navy fighters from Oceana, I think) blasting right over our house north of Lynchburg, 250 miles away, practicing low-level attack runs in the mountains. It was great!

}:-)4

[thoughtomator]

...members who complain constantly

Translation: Democrats.

[FreedomCalls]

The people complaining about the noise are probably the same ones who are at the BRAC hearing complaining that the air station is on the closure list. "Reality Disconnect Syndrome" is a common affliction among the left.

[FreedomCalls]

"Translation: Democrats."

But, but, but ... "they support the troops."

[ShadowDancer]

This is pathetic. How fast would these idiots change their tune if these same fighters were flying overhead to intercept enemy fighters? Real damned fast.

[brooklin]

I had to go down to Great Bridge to do some work on a boat and I loved all the air activity. It was like an all day air show.

[My2Cents]

Hey, Concerned Citizens About Jet Noise...take that!...

[sgtbono2002]

Pax River NAS near her, When I hear them go over I say "Let 'er eat boys." Damn I wish I could fly one.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Citizens Concerned About Jet Noise

BooHoo

I'm sure they do not complain about the influx of military derived pay in their local businesses...

[cubreporter]

Yes, would the whiney babies rather hear the sound of freedom or the sounds of enemies attacking us. Good Lord...

[wyattearp]

"Let 'er eat boys."

Try as I might, I have no idea what this means.

[Coldwater Creek]

The local businesses in Va. Beach are great to the military.

They are very supportive and give great discounts.

It is Mayor Myra that wants her cake and eat it too. The Navy warned the city over and over not to keep building so close to the base.

Someone in our immediate family has been stationed at Oceanus for the last 50 years.

[sgtbono2002]

Its probably a local colloquialism. It means the same as "let it all hang out", another good one. "Open 'er up",
"lets see what she can do".'" Hang on brother its time to rock".

[MD_Willington_1976]

I grew up near CFB Comox in BC Canada, having aircraft fly over all times of the day was an ongoing deal, not too many complained about it, we also were frequently visited by the American Air Force and I got to meet quite a few pilots from the US...

The base is visible here...
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Comox,+BC&spn=0.092837,0.279842&t=h&hl=en