An Air Force veteran is calling on the Navy to permanently ground the iconic Blue Angels air displays in Seattle because the beloved performances are too loud and cause pollution. The esteemed Blue Angels have been based in the area since 1946 and perform in front of an estimated 11 million spectators each year. In this year's homecoming they are teaming up with the Thunderbirds of the U.S. Air Force.

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Dr. Breck Lebegue, a retired Air Force Flight Surgeon, wrote an op-ed in the Seattle Times stating the Blue Angels should be grounded. He stated spectators’ risk for going deaf soars at the renowned air shows, where the noise levels are estimated to hover between 100 and 110 decibels

Ahead of scheduled demonstrations at the city’s annual Seafair Summer Festival, Lebegue stated in the article “Although jet noise may be the ‘sound of freedom,’ long or repeated exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss.”

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.

OUR EDITORS RESPONSE:  Mr. Lebegue does not mention that over 1,100 commercial jets fly into the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport EACH DAY! We could not find if he had asked the City of Seattle to give up it's 50.8 million annual passengers and tourist before focusing on an air show with the nation's best combat pilots?