The Sound of Freedom...

I live just north of the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. The Navy F-18s buzz over our apartment all the time. Sometimes it is one jet. Sometimes it is four jets in rapid succession. Sometimes it is a pair flying in beautiful synchronization. Sometimes they circle over and over and over again. Sometimes it is a touch-and-go. It doesn't matter. I always look up. I always wish I were the pilot. I always feel pride.

There are some hours and parts of the day when you can't watch a movie or talk on the phone because the jet noise is so loud and frequent. When Ben signed the lease on our apartment there was an aircraft clause because we live in one of the crash zones. I guess the noise might bother or annoy some people. But not me. I love jet noise!

Around here there are bumper stickers and t-shirts that say "I Love Jet Noise." This campaign was started to show support for keeping the Master Jet Base at Oceana when Congress wanted to move it to Jacksonville, FL. Hampton-Roaders started showing their jet-noise pride with the slogan I Love Jet Noise.

According to Wikipedia, NAS Oceana's primary mission is to train and deploy the Navy's Atlantic Fleet strike fighter squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets. Oceana Pilots fly approximately 219,000 training operations each year. And they do it all in my backyard! I love living near the base and hearing the jets around me at all times of the day.

To me the sound of the F-18s over my head is the sound of freedom. Jet noise is the sound of America's Freedom. Jet noise is the sound of the freedom that I enjoy on a daily basis. Jet noise means that our military is active and protecting our country.

I Love Jet Noise!