More reasons to say no to the F-35….
1. According to the Air Force Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) the F-35 bomber is much louder than the F-16. The EIS also shows that basing the F-35 here will place 1366 additional houses in Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Williston and Colchester within the FAA-defined “incompatible with residential use” 65 dB noise level contour. Over 100 homes within that contour have already been demolished in S. Burlington because of F-16 noise. The F-35 will bring half the houses in Winooski and a dozen streets in Burlington within that “incompatible” contour.
According to figures in the EIS, the maximum loudness of the F-35 is more than four times louder than the the maximum loudness of the F-16 both at takeoff and landing. Click here for explanation of maximum noise levels
2. The draft EIS shows that the negative effect of basing the F-35 in South Burlington will fall disproportionally on low-income and immigrant communities in Burlington and Winooski.
3. A Pentagon report shows that the F-35 bomber program will cost $1.45 trillion and that each plane will cost $135 million, all money needed for jobs in education, health care, sustainable development and infrastructure. A U. Mass. study shows that military spending creates half as many jobs as spending on health care, education, mass transit, and insulating houses, diverting money to the F-35 will leave many more people unemployed.
4. The EIS and an Air Force video describe the F-35 bomber as a weapon mainly for penetrating enemy air space and delivering 18,000 pounds of air-to-ground bombs and missiles. This means the mission of the F-35 is not to defend the US but for more attacks on countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
**The Air Force and Vermont’s leading politicians are currently unconcerned about these impacts—if enough people speak out we can change their minds!
Important Upcoming Events
Wednesday, June 13th: Stop the F35 Organizing meeting, 6:30 p.m., 45 Main Street, Winooski–together we can stop the F-35!
Thursday, June 14th: Stopthef35 rally, 5:00 p.m. Winooski traffic circle
Monday, June 18th: Public hearing Burlington City Council, 7:00 p.m., Burlington should follow the S. Burlington City Council in rejecting the basing of the F-35s at Burlington’s airport
Monday, June 18th: Public hearing Winooski City Council, 6:00 p.m. Winooski too can follow the S. Burlington City Council in rejecting the basing of the F-35s