Jet noise too loud?...Listen to this Published Oct. 25, 2007 By Second Lieutenant Noelle Caldwell 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- It's the stuff that'll make you shake, rattle and roll--your windows, your insides, and anything else you may have in and around your house. You can cheer for it, or you can complain about it, but one thing's for sure: Screaming, thunderous F-16 fighter jets will continue to keep America free. Jet noise is subjective. It means something different to you than it does to your neighbor, the state Governor, and even the Airman that works on the jets. For Shaw's F-16s, it's the "sound of freedom" you'll hear from time to time, whose mission is to provide, project and sustain combat-ready air forces. It's what tells the enemy, "You-better-run-you-son-of-a-gun, we're-coming-to-get-cha"; it's what says "Airpower!" to America as we enjoy the warm blanket of freedom we sleep under every night, and it pays respect with flyovers to those that have sacrificed their lives so you do not have to. Some say jet noise is disruptive to their everyday activities--that it hinders concentration, or it wakes them up at night when Shaw pilots hit the runways for night training. But if it's not the jet noise, it's the garbage collection truck, the fire engine's sirens, the police cars and ambulance teams' distress signals and flashing lights, the massive yellow school buses that hum through your neighborhood, or even the news choppers that hover over your neck of the woods to report the latest traffic. It's all noise, but it is noise that resonates for a reason. One of Shaw's fighter pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron, Capt. Sarah "Tess" Eccles, said the noise citizens hear mostly comes from a pilot's arrivals and departures into the airfield, and the occasional low-level routes that they fly to practice maneuvering at low altitudes. "Maintaining low-altitude currency is extremely important," Eccles said. It is critical that pilots train to fly in the low altitude environment in peacetime before being called upon to do so in a hostile situation, when the lives of American soldiers are on the line. Other citizens are concerned that jets pose a threat to their communities, should an accident occur; however, you should know that safely accomplishing the mission is Shaw Air Force Base's number one priority, and our pilots are highly trained professionals entrusted to fly million-dollar aircraft. It is essential we continue training to stay the best of the best when called upon in service to our country. Others complain that the jet noise is just too loud. Although the noise can be loud, you should know that our pilots plan their missions, minimize their time at low altitude and conduct their flights with the highest regard for their impact on local communities. Also, you won't hear the jets reach breaking the sound barrier, unless you happen to be 15 miles off shore. "I only wish they could view it as we do--swell with pride when they hear the power of our nation's military, and that we're out there training to support them," Eccles said. A single-engine fighter with 27,000 pounds of thrust that races at speeds up to 1,500 miles-per-hour has to let off a little steam--especially if it's going to pull up to nine times the force of gravity, drop bombs on enemy forces and embody air superiority. Something's got to scare those terrorists. "When we've dropped all of our ordnance and the only thing left we can provide is a "show-of-force"--to include flying over (the enemy's) position and sending jet noise their way--it's an indicator of the military's air power and sustained support of the troops on the ground," Eccles said. "It's been proven to send the enemy running when they hear us coming," she said. It makes a statement--like fashion. But unlike fashion, the business of dominating the skies will never go out of style. So the next time you hear our pilots defy the force of gravity at 500 knots, or see the belly of a Fighting Falcon soar overhead, remember that those jets are training and fighting for you. Don't hesitate to visit the next air show, or stop a pilot the next time you see him or her in the grocery store. They can provide you with a wealth of information that can give you a bigger picture for their purpose and the reason for jet noise. Who knows? Maybe you'll be excited to hear the F-16s echo their "sound of freedom" the next time they zoom on by.