Jim Macdonald raised this story today, found in the Jackson Hole News & Guide. "Angels draw crowds, roar over Jackson Hole"
The Blue Angles buzzed through Jackson Hole yesterday so that they could capture some promotional photographs of the squad with the Grand Teton Mountain range as a backdrop. Quoted from the article:
The squad had been scheduled to fly over the valley at 11:50 a.m. but weather delayed the visit. Clouds shrouded the mountains, which the Navy hoped to use as a backdrop for a promotional photograph. A photography jet accompanied the squadron.
Further in the article, as it relates to the park.
Some had worried the squad would be an unnecessary intrusion over Grand Teton National Park, where regulations recommend no flying within 2,000 feet of the ground.
Bishop said he didn’t think the jets were offensive and the pilots did not push the throttles on their 16,000-pound-thrust engines.
We've already had a couple of comments about this story this morning. One fellow described the sound of the jets as the sound of freedom, a sound he'd love to hear while hiking in the parks. I happen to think that while the military plays an important function in our government, the intrusion of military jets into the quite nature of National Parks is unnecessary. How do you feel?
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I have no idea if any animals were harmed. However, studies done in Yellowstone have shown that the noise pollution from snowmobiles have changed feeding patterns for moose and deer, and may show a decrease in offspring the following year. Someone made the comment above saying that thunder is louder than a fly-by and the wildlife don't have a problem with that. I'm no biologist, but I would say that the noise produced by thunder is something the animals have adapted to over their lifetime, and even know when the storms are coming and are able to prepare for them. I've witnessed fly-bys several times (and have been awed and inspired by them, to be sure) but the noise grows very quickly into a roar -- not something the wildlife would be able to prepare for. And when they hear it, does it scare them into unnatural behavior? Do they bolt into oncoming traffic? Would that, along with a hiker coming up a trail, scare a bull moose into charging? I don't know, and I doubt anyone knows; I'm just bringing up the point that I don't think the benefit of a photo opportunity offsets any potential disturbance of the wildlife. Besides, there are so few places left in the United States where one can go to get away from the hustle & bustle of everyday life, get away from cars, planes and exhaust fumes, and find some time in the peace and quiet of the outdoors. I know if I was trying to enjoy some time on the trails in Grand Teton while the jets roared overhead, I would be a tad annoyed at the break in my solitude.
Having said all that, considering all the other problems the NPS has in regards to funding, mismanagement, and illegal activity within park boundaries, jets flying over the Tetons really is small potatoes, and not really worth a bunch of time arguing about.
It would have been a lot easier and cheaper to use photoshop. Who'd be able to tell the difference?
Wish I coulda been there to see the "best of the best" fly over....
Lot less intrusion than smelling stinking, disgusting, leftist college punks and hippies who come into our place of business on a regular basis.
I've seen the Angels, and these are fine American gentlemen!
I'd like 'em to fly over a peak I am on ANYTIME!!
Jeremy is absolutely right...smelly spoiled leftists who seem to abound on today's college campuses don't even deserve to be in the same room as these fine gentlemen....
And I can't belive there are so many leftists in this blog who aren't grateful for their freedom that men such as the Angels have granted them thru the years.
As far as I am concerned, those military men and women who guard our freedom can fly over at any damn altitude they wish in our parks...and when they travel terra-firma, THEY should NEVER have to pay fees!!
God bless America, and our fine warriors who defend her!
As far as the LAW is concerned, they cannot. Of course, the military industrial complex and the "conservative" party in power often feel they are above the law.
The issue here is not left/right. The issue is that our military, like a fascist regime, views itself as being above the law. Additionally, the Blue Angels has an abysmal safety rating (10% fatality rate), and were an airplane to crash in a national park, it would be catastrophic and expensive. Also consider that the Navy's budget (not including the Marines) for the Blue Angels (about $20 million a year) and the cost of the planes themselves ($22 million EACH) are used for "recruitment" purposes. That money could fund several Yosemites and Grand Canyons.
Jeremy and Sandi, why is it that you have to label people with childish insults who disagree with you. Sure, we all have differences of opinion about the subject matter discussed above. My uncle was a flight instructor in WW II, and would prefer the silence of the woods in the National Parks after serving horrendous years of war. I never heard him despise anyone who had a difference of political opinion then his, nor did I ever hear him speak vehemently against anyone who opposed the war, or the bloated war machine which us taxpayers who are overly burden with. Please zip up the trash talk, don't forget there were alot of hippies that fought in Viet Nam (and probably in Iraq too)....and died...Geo. Bush wasn't one of them. So, watch your spiel!
"...smelly spoiled leftists who seem to abound on today's college campuses don't even deserve to be in the same room as these fine gentlemen...."
Actually they do.
It is the narrow-minded naive condescending American bigot spouting such drivel which does not deserve.
I did not come home (or to this blog) after 4 years in SE Asia to read or listen to this adolescent drivel...
The idea that the U.S. military is protecting anyone's freedom is an absolutely absurd notion but firmly ingrained in much of the culture. These Bozo's were not even able to protect their own headquarters in DC much less the largest city in our country. What they are good at, though, is attacking weaker countries that don't possess nukes i.e. Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan yet still manage to get their butts kicked anyway. To look at the U.S. military as a savior of anything is to be blind, stupid and ignorant of the reality at hand. After wasting nearly $2 trillion dollars and maiming and killing thousands of Americans, Mesopotamians, Afghanis not to mention incurring the anger and enmity of the world's second largest faith, what does this vaunted military have to show for its efforts? NADA. ZERO. ZIPPO! I just laugh at the silly and stupidly sincere sentiments of people like Sandia and Jeremy. How blind you must be!
The bigger point, relevant to this website, is that continued support of the current stewards of the national parks, is linked to support of the same people who control the military, the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, which is and will continue to be a hand puppet of the military-industrial complex. In the hands of these people the parks are nothing more than backdrops to be used when convenient to promote their warped agenda. If you think that the Congress is gonna step and make it right you're really dreaming my friends.
Ultimately I think that the parks should be turned over to other entities so that they can be treated with the respect and funding they deserve. A continuing faith in the Federal leviathan to do what is right and moral has long ago disappeared and any further trust is misplaced and naive. It is also proabaly dangerous to your health and well-being.