A US Air Force veteran has called for the famous Blue Angels air display team to be disbanded, saying it was too noisy and dirty.
Breck Lebegue, a physician who once served as a surgeon in the USAF, said the 110-decibel roar of the planes puts people at risk of deafness.
Writing in the Seattle TimesLebegue also pointed out that the F/A-18 jet demonstration team emitted 670 tons of carbon monoxide during two days of demonstrations.
According to him, that is equivalent to 30 cars each making a journey of 240,000 kilometers.
The Blue Angels will perform this weekend at Seattle’s annual Seafair event, wowing thousands of spectators.
Seattle Air Force veteran and physician Breck LeBegue wants the Blue Angels, pictured over Houston, Texas, in May 2020, to be decommissioned over health and safety concerns
But the joy that the jets bring to millions of people each year did not appeal to LeBegue. He wrote: ‘It is time to greet and say goodbye to the Blue Angels at Seafair.
“While we need skilled fighter pilots to defend our country and our allies from enemies, these air shows cause significant health damage.”
LeBegue encouraged locals to download an app on their phones that would allow them to measure how loud the Blue Angels are.
He warned that prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage.
The jets, identical to those of the Blue Angels, are partly based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island near Seattle. According to Lebegue, 74,000 local residents were at risk of “adverse health effects” from the roar of their engines.
He cited a scientific study and explained: ‘Of those exposed, a significant number were estimated to be highly irritable and to have sleep disturbances. In addition, several schools were exposed to levels that increased the risk of learning delays in children.’
LeBegue further said that allowing the Blue Angels to fly over Seattle runs counter to the progressive city’s efforts to become greener.
Local governments want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent between 2008 and 2030.
The Blue Angels fly over a Dallas hospital in May 2020 during a multi-city tour to thank U.S. service providers in the early days of COVID.
The US Navy’s iconic demonstration team was founded in 1946, but Lebegue says the carbon emissions the jets emit are simply too bad for the planet
The doctor claimed that dumping the Blue Angels was a form of “damage control.”
He added: “Thank the Blue Angels for their service and past shows, say goodbye and move on to quieter planes, cleaner air and wholesome family fun.
“Let’s honor the past and define the future. Let’s reimagine Seafair without the Angels.”
The Blue Angels, officially the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, were founded in 1946 to promote the US Navy and entertain Americans.
Based in Pensacola, Florida, the Blue Angels perform at least 60 shows each year throughout the United States, often at some of the country’s most beautiful venues.
At the height of the first COVID outbreak in 2020, the Blue Angels embarked on a tour of American cities to thank essential workers.