Air Force vet calls for grounding iconic Blue Angels over noise, pollution

An Air Force veteran is calling on the Navy to permanently ground its iconic Blue Angels air displays in Seattle because the beloved performances are too loud and cause pollution. 

Spectators’ risk for going deaf soars at the renowned air shows, where the noise levels are estimated to hover between 100 and 110 decibels, Dr. Breck Lebegue wrote in a Seattle Times op-ed ahead of scheduled demonstrations at the city’s annual Seafair Summer Festival.

“Although jet noise may be the ‘sound of freedom,’ long or repeated exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss,” wrote Lebegue, who was an Air Force flight surgeon for 30 years and is also a member of the advocacy group Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. 

The concerned doc pointed to a May study of takeoffs and landings of F/A-18 planes — the same used by the Blue Angels — at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the Evergreen State, which found over 74,000 people were “at risk of adverse health effects.” 

Many were estimated to be highly sleep-disturbed, while several schools were exposed to noise levels that risked delays in childhood learning, the study found. 

The popular showcases, which in May drew a record-breaking crowd of 106,000 fans to Jones Beach, Long Island, for a rehearsal, also run afoul of the progressive city’s plans to slash its contributions to climate change, Lebegue noted. 

Lebegue said the Blue Angels jets would dump 670 metric tons of carbon monoxide into the air over the weekend, contributing more to climate change than 30 cars each taking a 150,000 mile journey.

Seattle officials announced this year their aim to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions 58% from 2008 levels by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality in 2050. 

“Last year was the hottest since records were kept, and July 22 was the hottest day ever. The Angels only make it worse,” Lebegue sniffed. 

Lebegue said his city should practice “harm reduction” by parting with the world’s second-oldest aerobatic team at the Seafair, a 10-week long summer festival.

“Thank the Blue Angels for their service and past shows, say goodbye and move on to quiet planes, cleaner air and healthy family fun,” he wrote.  

The Blue Angels, formally known as the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron were assembled in 1946 in order to expose the American public to naval aviation and improve morale in the Navy.

The Pensacola, Fl.-based flight squad will perform around 64 shows across 32 cities in 2025.

The Air Force has its own demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, which flies F-16s in about 75 shows per year.