Military Base Neighbors Wary of New, Louder Air Fighters

Posted by: Nate Berg

15 October 2009 - 5:00am

The U.S. Military are on the verge of releasing its new air fighter, the F-35, and about 200 U.S. bases are under consideration to house them. The new planes are three to 12 times louder than existing planes, which has some base neighbors on edge.

"[W]hile many of the communities near those bases would welcome the economic benefits of the new mission, they would not be as welcoming to the noise the aircraft bring.

Air Force data suggest that, depending on altitude, the F-35 is three to 12 times louder than the A-10 attack aircraft."

According to Military officials, noise is not likely to play a major role in determining where the fighters are eventually based.

Full Story: Fighter Jet's Noise Worries Some Potential Neighbors

Source: NPR, October 13, 2009