Noise Complaint…



This is just frikkin HILARIOUS!!!  If you ever flew low-levels in the old days, you can appreciate BOTH sides of this one…  We ‘used’ to train like we were going to fight, now days, not so much…  All I can say is it’s a trip to fly UNDER a flight of Canadian Geese… 

Noise Complaint Lemoore Low Levels – PILOTS READ and HEED!!!!!
Leadership,

I normally don’t share these with you but find myself needing to send the message that we are being watched. While not uncommon this particular individual has been keep a log of our flying events for some time. I expect you all to be professional and to expect scrutiny. Our industry demands it.

Rabies’s note to me while lengthy is not uncommon. My staff and I see many of these each week as you and your warriors exercise your right to hone your skills on low level training routes and in controlled airspace in preparation to defend this great nation when called.

My response and reply are at the end of his complaint.

VR Mutha

—–Original Message—– Subject: Noise Complaint

Captain,

I am having an issue with noise that is generated by aircraft based at NAS Lemoore (and elsewhere), specifically, with their use of a low level military training route that your command is the controlling authority for. Rather than deal with mere underlings, I thought it best to go directly to the source of “where the buck stops”. That would be you.

My home is located in a rural area of California’s Sacramento Valley. I was unaware that when I purchased this home 21 years ago, it was located directly under the centerline of VR-201 (or VR-202, I can’t remember which one it is), at GPS coordinates NXX.X8.610 WXXX.X8.710, 210′ MSL (according to the GPS in my car). Over the last 21 years, I have been subjected to the repeated injustices, insults to my eardrums, and affronts to my sensibilities as an American Taxpayer, that your jets have been responsible for. In the early 90’s the use of this low level training route was frequent, but I tolerated it nonetheless. From about 1995 until early this year, use of this route was only occasional and sporadic, so I could generally overlook the issue. However, in the last three weeks, there has been a noticeable increase it its use. Specifically, I have observed the following,

1. August 30th, 1135 AM PDT – A single F-18

2. September 18th, 1430 PM PDT – A single EA-6B

3. September 19th, 1120 AM PDT – A single F-18

4. September 19th, 1145 AM PDT – A single F-18

Here is my specific complaint…..


1. None of these overflights were low enough…

2. None of these overflights were loud enough……

3. And, none of these overflights were fast enough!!!

As an American Taxpayer, I pay good, hard earned money, to provide your young Naval Aviators the best training possible. For that money, I EXPECT to get something for it. If my house is not shaken to its foundation, if the windows do not rattle in their frames, I judge this display of airmanship as incredibly weak. All of these jets listed above, were so high, that I could not tell if the Hornets were Super Hornets or Legacy Hornets (the Electic-6 was unmistakable). These jets were so high, that after one of them flew by, my wife looked at me and said, “That fly-by is so wimpy, you should call it a “Whisperjet”.

The ultimate goal is to earn a five-star rating, as viewed by me. To earn a five-star rating, your jets should create enough noise to break at least one window in the house. Not since ’92-’93 has that happened. At the time, a flight of eight jets in a combat spread formation passed over my house at about 200′ AGL, approximately 500+ knots. This flight consisted of four Hornets, two Intruders and two Turkeys. The thundering noise was awesome! Not only did I have to replace a few windows, but several of my neighbors did as well!! That was a fly-by truly worthy of Naval Aviators.

As a former naval Aviator (back in the day, we flew Lot V Hornets with planning link failures and collapsed landing gear), I am hugely embarrassed for my younger brethren. You and your young naval Aviators should be ashamed, for you have subjected me and my family to the indignity of these transgressions. My son, who is a KC-135 pilot in the Air Force has observed some these so-called “fly-bys”, and has said that even his jet makes more noise when it is at 5,000′ at cruise power settings.

As you know, to fly the American flag upside down is a sign of distress. Perhaps you should bring in the young Naval Aviators responsible for these affronts to our dignity, and instruct them to wear their Wings of Gold upside down on their flight suits the next time they visit the O’Club, as a sign of their humility and penance for committing these transgressions.

Very respectfully,

Rabies VFA-113 (circa ’87-’90)


Sent: Thursday,  Subject: RE: Noise Complaint

Rabies,

I assure you that this has my fullest attention. I have directed my Operation team to investigate these repeated injustices and to bring me the names of all the guilty parties. I am expecting to receive a briefing from my Operation Officer early next week. In the mean time I have asked my staff to review our SOP, route descriptions, and tactical training procedures to ensure we have the guidance in place to achieve the “The five-star rating”.

In fact, once we are complete with our investigation I personally plan to survey the route myself to ensure we have not overlooked any training opportunities and will encourage others to do so as well.

I firmly believe that if we do not use these training routes to their fullest we may in fact loose them all together. Thankfully, we have great Americans like you who remind us that there are still some that appreciate the “Sound of Freedom”. For that reminder I applaud your letter and tenacity to go directly to the top!

I would like to offer by way of apology an opportunity to re-blue the resonance of jet noise that will in fact shake you to the bone. If you and your wife would be my guest at our air show I would be honored. I have a limited number of VIP seats but would like to send you an invite to attend either Saturday the 15th or Sunday the 16th of October.

If you would be so kind to send me your address I will have an invitation in the mail in short order. Sir, it would be an honor to make your acquaintance.

Proud to Serve, Mutha

Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific


—–Original Message—– Subject: RE: Noise Complaint

Captain Mutha,

Thank you for your prompt and complete attention to this matter.

I am indeed encouraged and heartened by your rapid response to these past travesties. I am confident that your forcefulness in placing your hands firmly on the helm of this issue will pay dividends for all us… Your young aviators will get the training they truly deserve, the country will be better served by having the most competent aviators in the world, and I will get my “5 star rated” fly-bys. What more can we ask for?

Your leadership on this issue is exemplary, and is a credit to you and the Naval Service. I would be most pleased to favorably endorse your next FitRep accordingly, to ensure that the next promotion board is fully aware of your outstanding contribution to our country and the Naval Service.

If I may be of additional service, I will gladly assist your staff in any capacity as they pursue the work you have assigned them in reviewing this military training route. Even if the contribution is as small as providing occasional critiques of the aviator’s route performance (from the comfort of my lounge chair by the pool), I will answer the call.

Your offer to accommodate both my wife and I as your guests at the Lemoore air show is both gracious and generous, and is a sign of your stellar leadership. Accordingly, we humbly accept your offer with great gratitude. We would be honored to attend the air show on Saturday, 15 October.

We look forward to meeting you, and being a part of this great event.

Best regards,

“Rabies”

P.S. There is an answer to the above question, “What more can we ask for?”….. My wife says that attending this air show, with its “bone-shaking” jet noise, will hopefully, finally shut me up. She has had to tolerate the last 21 years in this house of my complaints about not enough jet noise and afterburners (on active duty, that need was satisfied by endless hours on the LSO platform on the Connie and Indy, and countless hours at the LSO shack out at NASL 32L). She has repeatedly stated that my complaints are louder than the jet noise, and she wants that changed.


Not saying that old military aviation types are just a ‘bit’ off or anything… 🙂

Comments

Noise Complaint… — 23 Comments

  1. I grew up about 20 miles from Fairchild AFB in the 70’s/80’s . I lived in one of the erosion valleys that litter the area. The Airforce would run attack and defense training runs trying to sneak into Fairchild. I am pretty sure I saw one of the preproduction B1’s (not B1B’s) fly by level with my house half way down the side of the canyon. This would have put it with the ground at about 500 feet in three directions. No broken windows but some stuff knocked of the shelves. It was awesome!

  2. I grew up 1 mile off the end of Barksdale AFB. Really miss the B-52D full water injected sound of freedom!

  3. Good man, Rabies. Once lived South of SLC airport. Sunday morning wakeup was the Utah Guard C-124 going over the house about 600′ AGl and full power.

  4. I remember being on the duty desk one weekend and getting an irate phone call about “sonic booms” and a couple of shattered windows.

    Told the caller that we didn’t have anything flying today (Luke AFB) but that the students at Williams AFB were always exceeding the published speed limit–and then I kindly gave the irate caller the desk duty officer’s number at WAFB.

    Fifteen minutes later, I get a call from the duty officer at Williams. Sure enough, he got the call but flipped through his manifests loudly and then told the caller they were “in between student classes” and had nothing flying.

    He directed him to call Davis-Monthan AFB, blaming the booms on some weekend warrior pilots.

    And sure enough, a half hour later, the original caller calls ME back, madder than hell.

    I directed him to the F-16 boys up at Hill AFB (Utah). . .

    God Bless aviators, all of ’em!

    –AOA

  5. well that brought back a few memories!

    You see my parents house is directly under the landing path of the Archerfield Airport (historically this was a very busy base during WWII and the air raid sirens are still used to warn the neighbourhood when a plane is in trouble) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archerfield_Airport

    Growing up we’d only comment on the extremely low or sloppy flights that rattled the cups in the cupboards and made the windows vibrate. I have no memory of it ever disturbing my sleep.

    Of course whenever I return these days to visit I wonder how they can manage not being driven insane by the noise!

    Pax

  6. Rev- They ARE coming back 🙂

    Tim- Hope so too!

    Eriko- Nice story 🙂

    RC- Yep, Barksdale ‘could’ get a tad noisy 🙂

    WSF- And probably hoping like hell he could make some altitude 🙂

    AOA- That is hilarious 🙂

    Pax- Hellva story Lady!

    Suz- Not sure on yours!

  7. I haven’t heard a proper sonic boom in years. This, too, needs to change. After all, I may have an airplane – but there’s something special about the screaming sound of freedom.

  8. All I get is a B-17 thundering over my roof every once in a while courtesy of the Yankee Air Force.
    And the annual Blue Angels.
    Used to get cargo DC-3 landing lights in my rattling windows.
    Can’t have everything.

  9. We are ten miles from Lemoore.
    The other day, as the boys were coming in for the night, BABOOM.
    My wife yelled “What was that!”
    I told her it was the beginnings of plane washing duty.

  10. Last time I heard a sonic boom was in march 1995 at night near the mountains north of Flagstaff, AZ. It was an odd three-part boom and my folks, my friend and I wondered if it was three planes, on odd echo off the mountain-bowl, or something new and classified. I also recall seeing two F-111s flying under me as I was enroute from TCC to LVS back in 97 or 98. There’s a low-level terrain following route along the edge of the Canadian Escarpment that all the local pilots keep away from, JIC.
    LittleRed1

  11. I use to live very close to Dobbins AFB in college, and having Strike Eagles completely drown out all other noises was common. The college was so close that the campus radio station’s 100ft antennae showed up on their radar (we know, because they called us when we moved it and forgot to notify them). It was very interesting to notice that people just got use to it. You’d be in the middle of a conversation, then a jet would fly over, the conversation would pause because speaking during the noise was futile, and once it passed the conversation would continue as if nothing happened.

  12. Man, I needed that laugh! Grew up on various Air Force bases (Dad worked in the hospitals for 22 years, with a stint as MP in ‘Nam before he cross-rated), so when he retired and we moved off-base, it took me a while to get to sleep at night without the comforting rumble of various F-4 flights screaming overhead.

  13. Wing- That there is… 🙂

    ADM- True!

    Ed- I’d take that, all I get is Blackhawks flying over… sigh

    Skip- Probably 🙂

    GB- You’re welcome!

    LR1- I know which track you’re talking about… that one is FUN! 🙂

    Andy- Eh??? 🙂

    Instinct- I didn’t realize you were a swabbie! 🙂 Welcome Sir!

    Kirk- Even today, 20 years after retirement, I can STILL sleep through jets flying over all night long…LOL

  14. Had the Flyby here for the Football game Sunday. I know they came from the coast to hit Charlotte. I got my money’s worth! The house rattled inbound and outbound. Small price to pay for the sound of freedom!

  15. I grew up in the shadow of the base leg of the approach to Dobbins AFB/NAS Atlanta/Lockheed Marietta.

    I will never forget the first time I saw a C-5B low and slow overhead… It’s so cute that they call a B-17 “Aluminum Overcast”. 😉

    They used to fly F-105G Wild Weasels there before the transitioned to ’15s in the mid-’80s. Those were cool overhead…

  16. Keads- True, but FEW today care…

    Tam- Thuds WERE some noisy birds! And the C-5s also got nicknamed “aluminium overcast, and flying barns” 🙂