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by Guy Page
The Vermont Air National Guard dispatched four F-35’s to conduct Independence Day flyovers across the length and breadth of the state yesterday.
The flyover flight – Facebook users can see it in all of its adrenaline-pumping glory here – began at 10 AM in Colchester, veered north to cross Westford, Fairfax and Alburg, then turned east to Derby, south to Jeffersonville, crossed the Connecticut River to New Hampshire for a minute, and then continued to criss-cross the state, with Essex Junction its last flyover before landing in South Burlington.
The flight made plenty of noise in social media as well, as the social media thread on Wednesday’s promo on VDC shows.
“Gee, no request from Burlington? Thank you to the 158th Fighter Wing for what is always a dazzling display of air power, and thank God they are on “our side”. There is no better thunder on Independence Day than that produced by a Pratt and Whitney afterburning turbofan,” Rich LaChappelle wrote.
Michael J. Hall wrote, “Hats off to our men in Blue! I worked on the flight line at P.A.F.B. 1976-1979 380th OMS and there is nothing more intense than viewing a FB-111 taking off in full AB from the distance of 100 ft while sitting in a Launch 1 metro van parked on the taxiway. The walls of the van were literally vibrating. Awesome experience it was. “
But Concerned Taxpayer was a Debby Downer to the flyover party.
“Just so you know how your tax dollars are spent, flying a single F-35 runs up hourly operating cost of $30,000-35,000, per jet-flying hour. And the cost of each one those F35A jets is more than $100 million apiece. The 158th Fighter Wing’s operating expenses alone cost an average estimate of $169,000,000 on “defense” every year.”
Ditto, said another commenter.
“Unfortunately (or fortunately) I look at it that way too. That is a huge taxpayer expense for an aircraft, fuel, pilots and ground crew on a holiday probably getting double time pay, etc, plus a bit more emissions into the air. The huge amount of money spent on fireworks everywhere is also a somewhat wasteful expense, considering that those funds could be spent elsewhere where it would be of more benefit.”
Their comments elicited a partly facetious reply….
“You certainly know how to put a damper on celebrating the nation’s birthday. I guess I’m just going to stay home because I certainly don’t want to be part of knowing we are wasting taxpayers’ money and I certainly don’t want to be part of putting more emissions in the air. I hope you both have a great 4th hiding in your bedroom.”
About that cost thing….Dylan Magwire of Orange County had something to say: “This counts as training time so the money was going to be spent anyways. Might as well see what we pay for. It could also help boost recruitment for the military.”
In fact, the Air Guard today posted a video of the flyover over the beaches and parks of Malletts Bay, praising the pleasant living environment in Vermont – an obvious appeal to out-of-state residents considering service with the Guard.
Added another reader: “Money well spent, if they weren’t here there would be a loss of over 300 jobs.”
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Categories: Holiday
As an Army retiree I can assure you that no one was getting overtime pay for that flyover. No do they ever get overtime as they are on on duty 24/7/365.
As Rudyard Kipling’s poem Tommy says at its end says…
For its Tommy this an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Savior of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t no blooming fool-You can bet that Tommy sees!
Thank you for being there and being ready .
Written by me yesterday to our local National Guard Base Commander:
Col. Daniel Finnegan
I read that the F-35s based nearby would be doing a ‘fly-by’. The article posted times so my husband and I drove to the highest spot we could find, behind Essex Outlet Theater, to witness it. On schedule, came two planes and then another two. Anti-climactic some would say but they wouldn’t be me, nor my husband. I grew up near the SAC base in Omaha, NE, and in 2019, when the 158th Fighter Wing, VT, became the first Air National Guard unit to receive F-35s, I celebrated. I am writing after this morning’s fly-by to tell each of you how grateful our family is for you, for your commitment to our nation’s protection, and for your dedication to make happen what we saw today, knowing that it isn’t just for today, it’s for every day. We applaud your service to us and not just us, but to every state, every city, and every place that your fellow Americans call home. We salute you and voice our thanks.
Respectfully,
Sue Schaefer
Essex VT
Excellent letter Sue! I wish more people felt that way. We are so fortunate for VTANG to have received F-35s. It’s a very high honor for our small state to have received them.
God Bless.
Beautiful. Heros who embody the freedom and power of the United States of America.
Btw, that’s the USA – ” though many, one” – not and never just the 14th state of Vermont, for select residents born here.
State pride is one thing. Being insular and xenophobic of other countrymen, Patriots, and veterans from within your own nation is backward.
Last I knew, the military does not get overtime and these flights are also excellent training for the pilots and crews. As for the rest of misinformed whining about wasting of taxpayer dollars, there is nothing more wasteful use of taxpayer dollars than millions wasted on trying to feed and house those who have no interest in contributing to society in any meaningful way, followed up by safe injection sites that encourage continued drug abuse rather than reduce the scourge on society. In addition, let’s talk about the “enlightened approach to criminal justice reform, that has led to rampant crime and an emboldened group of criminals who prey on the rest of society.
So as one can see, there is plenty of waste of taxpayer dollars to complain about, however the display of patriotism by our citizen soldiers on our Nation’s birthday is surely not one of them!
Fully agree Mike!
Brilliant response. You should run for office!
“United we stand for America First.”
Awesome.
A comment in the context ““Just so you know how your tax dollars are spent, flying a single F-35 runs up hourly operating cost of $30,000-35,000, per jet-flying hour. And the cost of each one those F35A jets is more than $100 million apiece. The 158th Fighter Wing’s operating expenses alone cost an average estimate of $169,000,000 on “defense” every year.”
Really, it gives an uplifting of spirits, something to rejoice. The guy seems more content putting down small military displays than Biden’s spending in the Ukraine, the illegals, inflation, etc that is the real cost to Americans. I winter in Pensacola FL where the Navy’s Blue Angles are housed at Sherman Field. Many Naval aviators got their flight training there (John McCain, ex).They hold practice performances every Tues & Weds mornings at 8am, free. They will sign autographs and meet them at the huge Naval Air Museum afterwards. Then there’s the Air Force Thunder Birds. All performances are overwhelming and scheduled and wanted.
So to pick on a small over fly by the local National guard is so trivial, mindless, in a box thinking, like living as does a woodchuck in a hole without seeing the sun. Not putting the fellow down, just suggesting to open his world.
I was in the Air Force and no greater experience than seeing the refuelers and bombers taking off and landing. I flew on them (with nukes) and maintained them and heavily appreciated being part of that world.
Get a life.
I am an old Vermonter, as a child my father would take the family to the” Burlington International Airport” to watch planes come and go, and then there was nothing more exhilarating than watching the Air National Guard plane hit the runway.
I was at the airport when the F16 was retired, and I watched the F-35s arrive, and yes it’s still exhilarating, and every time they make a pass……….. the sound of freedom !!
The Vermont Air National Guard dispatched four F-35s to conduct ” Independence Day” flyovers across the length and breadth of the state yesterday, for all the whiners that complain, they are part of the reason ” you ” can complain, and to all the fools that live in the flight path and you don’t like the noise ” MOVE “, the airport and the Vermont Air Guard have been around long before you came into town.
Remember 9/11/2001, yes the VT Air Guard was the first fighter plane in the sky over NYC, and stayed on call for weeks securing the sky from terrorists, you should be thanking them every day instead of whining……………………………Loud & proud VANG !!
There is never overtime in the military. Draft the idiot who thinks there is. If anything, they are getting in their required flight time to stay qualified.
As to the Green Mountain Boys, you always skip Bennington. We don’t like that, but all will be forgiven if you give us a fly over on Bennington Battle Day. And make it low and fast. — tell the commander a USAF vet ordered it.
Praying you get your request for fly over, was in Wardsboro for the 75th Celebration for the 4th of July and they came through with gusto loud and clear! Awesome!
LOVED THE F35 FLY OVER IN MILTON!!! THANX FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!
Our country pays more in interest for debt accrued due to conjured funds (ARPA, Inflation reduction act, unnecessary covid checks, etc.) then we do for defense. For those that claim a strong defense that detours violence on our citizens is too expensive, i would ask them what price they’d be willing to pay for the alternative? Thank you to all those that put on the uniform as well as their families. Thank you VTANG!
A member of the old Liberty Union Party, now “Peace and Justice Party, “Murray Ngoima”, complained that the F-35’s flying over her home outside of Hartford, created a serious noise pollution problem on take off and landing. When I did the calculation it became apparent that she lives farther from the base than do I. They aren’t even noticeable from here.
They must have flown right over my house. Stupid me, I thought it was motorcycles and so didn’t look out, or up, and missed them. Maybe next year. I will be sure to check the flight times in advance. My dad was a fan of the air shows at Pease AFB and I remember driving up there from Massachusetts.
They can fly over
To the commenters in the article, maybe if VT didn’t spend so much freaking money on education (to a falling and less educated student population) and raising our property taxes by 22% (8% last year, 14% this year) over the last two years when appx 80% of the tax revenue goes to education in this truly God forsaken communist he77hole we call VT, maybe then they might think this money would be ok to spend on our beautiful Air National Guard; but probably not.
And HAHA, yeah, I agree with the other posters here, no one, not a single soul in the military gets paid overtime – what idiots they must be. I wish they would all move to Cuba or somewhere their communist fantasies of utopia could be their lived truth.