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Stop the F35s! Here are some ways you can make a difference

It is not too late to stop the F35s from coming to Vermont. Other communities have made stopped a planned basing this late in the process. A strong response at the polls will get the Air Forces attention. Burlington was not their chosen location and it is our belief that they will listen to the people’s voice. If we come out strongly opposed to the basing.

Whether or not you live in Burlington, there are many ways to help us pass the resolution to resist the basing of the F35s here in Vermont. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Volunteer on voting day at the polls in Burlington: email rachel@pjcvt.org to see the shifts and locations needed.
• Contribute money to offset campaign costs: click here to give.
• Volunteer to post on Front Porch Forum to educate people about the ballot question: email gonda05403@yahoo.com.
• Like and follow the Stop the F35s Facebook page.
• Put a lawn sign in front of your home: fill out this form to have one delivered or pick one up.

Here are the key points surrounding this issue:

1. Noise/Housing

  • Studies show that children exposed to this noise level have significant increases in blood pressure, significant increases in stress hormones, and cognitive impairment.
  • F35 produces 118 decibels (EIS, BR4-23). Feds advise limiting exposure to 118 decibels to less than 14 seconds. (NIOSH Occupational Noise Exposure, p2)
  • The Air Force said F35s will be 21 to 25 decibels louder than F16 during takeoff and arrival (EIS, NS-40). Every 10 dB increase is perceived as a doubling of the noise (EIS, C-2). 21 to 25 dB increase means F35 is OVER 4 times louder
  • Air Force said while F35 flight ops might be less than the F16, this would be offset by the dramatic increase of the F35 noise over the F16 (EIS, BR4-25)
  • Studies show 1.8 to 2.3% decrease in property values per decibel increase. (EIS, C-50)
  • Analysis of 110 homes in the local 65 dB DNL show a loss of 15% ($33,000) in value (Larson Appraisal July 2013)
  • Properties within the 65 dB DNL may not be eligible for federally guaranteed loans, program assistance, subsidy, or insurance Should they try to sell their homes. (EIS, C-49).

2. Crash rate

The Air Force revised Environmental Impact Statement says they anticipate the F-35 crash rate will be like that experienced by the F-22 during its first years of operational basing. During the first two years of F-22 squadron operations, a table in the EIS states that the accident rate was 869.57 major accidents per hundred thousand flight hours (page BR4-49). That crash rate declined to 59.51 during the first four years of squadron operations and to 40.66 during the first five years. The crash rate fell to 7.34 when averaged over the first 12 years ending in 2012. That lifetime crash rate for the F-22 was double the lifetime crash rate for the F-16 which the EIS gives as 3.68.

On March 4, 1965, a Vermont National Guard F-89J Scorpion jet was approaching Burlington Airport when an onboard fire broke out. The aircraft went down about three miles from the airport in the town of Williston, in an area known as Taft Corners, barely missing some trailer homes. Nether the pilot or the radar observer survived. From New England Aviation History.

3. Jobs/Air Guard base closure

The Air Force said VT guard would always have a flying mission regardless of the F35 basing decision (Environmental Impact Statement, PA-47 and federal court case 5:14-cv-132, p59). Fire and rescue services will continue regardless of the mission.

No jobs are at risk since the Air Force guaranteed our Guard will continue to have a flying mission. (EIS, 2-29). MG Dubie said maintainer jobs would be LOST if F35 comes here. (So Burlington City Council Public hearing April 19, 2010).
Getting transport aircraft will triple the number of current Guard jobs (USAF C-130 fact sheet).

The Air Force states in court documents, “Had the F-35A not been selected to replace the F-16s, there could have been ‘any number’ of reasonable alternatives available to the Air Force on how to configure Burlington.” Federal court records (Civil Action No. 5:14-cv-132, Defendant’s Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion), March 7, 2016, page 60.

Recently other Air Guard bases have switched from fighter aircraft to other missions. The Great Falls Air Guard Base in Montana changed aircraft from F-15 fighter aircraft to C-130 transport aircraft in 2016: “120th Airlift Wing Prepares to Deploy,” Jenn Rowell, Great Falls Tribune, October 1, 2016. The New Mexico Air National Guard changed from a fighter mission to training aircrews in special operations and personnel recovery in 2013:“150 Fighter Wing becomes 150th Special Operations Wing,” NM National Guard Public Affairs, December 4, 2013.

The Air Force reports that demand for mobility aircraft (transports, cargo and refueling aircraft) is increasing. From “Air Mobility: A clear need for future environments,” Col Chris Karns, Air Force Times, January 21, 2018:
• The demand for mobility aircraft, which includes transport aircraft, is trending upwards. Without it, a team doesn’t move.
• Deliver critical equipment and supplies to forces stateside and overseas
• Transports deliver powerful humanitarian and diplomatic effects
• During the 2017 hurricane season, transports delivered 28 million pounds of supplies to victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria
• Transports delivered critical supplies and expertise to Mexico, Peru and Argentina
• Air Force transports help others and enhance U. S. global reputation and build trust

4. Timeline

 

  • Oceana Naval Air Station, VA Navy plans to base the F-35 were cancelled when citizen opposition groups took action.
    • “F-35C not likely to be based at NAS Oceana,” The Virginian, Dianna Cahn, November 19, 2013”

 

  • Oceana Naval Air Station, VA F-18 flight operations were changed after homeowners objected.

 

 

For more information on the basing, and why we are opposed to it, please visit the Save Our Skies/Stop the F35s website.