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FYI: Flyover planned for Sunday’s Seahawks game

January 5, 2023 11:16 am
|      68 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(November photo from Gene Pavola)

Since military flyovers for stadium events so often bring questions when the aircraft pass over here, this time we have a heads-up: Four helicopters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are scheduled to fly over Lumen Field before this Sunday’s Seahawks/Rams game, which ends the regular season. We’re told the flyover around 1:20 pm will be preceded by up to three practice passes, which will likely include some time in holding patterns, The helicopters expected to participate are two UH-60 Black Hawks and two AH-64 Apaches, as seen in November.

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68 Replies to "FYI: Flyover planned for Sunday's Seahawks game"

  • In the Know January 5, 2023 (11:25 am)

    Thank you for the advanced notice!  

  • Lucy January 5, 2023 (12:11 pm)

    Whoo hoo!  Let’s go SEAHAWKS!

  • New Salt January 5, 2023 (12:48 pm)

    I would also like to give advance notice to those who love to kvetch about money spent on flyovers (even when they’re funded by private entities). Here, I’ll even do it for you: “Something, something, military bravado. Also, I own a dog.”

    • WestSeattleBadTakes January 5, 2023 (2:13 pm)

      Mmm yes. Rent free.  

    • wscommuter January 5, 2023 (5:21 pm)

      New Salt … too funny … irony fully lost on the commenters below who with all seriousness say exactly what you lampoon so well.  

    • J B January 5, 2023 (7:16 pm)

      They train during those flights. It is an accounted and paid for training op.Get over it and love your country or leave.

      • HappyCamper January 5, 2023 (10:10 pm)

        I’m cool with these military ops and was in the military but no fan of the “love it or leave it” saying. This country is about loving it and peacefully working to continuously make it better. Not leaving because you don’t like one or a few things about it. One can certainly “love” their country but not “like” parts of it.

      • Amy January 6, 2023 (3:45 pm)

        What does loving the county have to do with anything? And please, don’t project your need that I have to love it here or I need to leave.

  • anon anon January 5, 2023 (12:57 pm)

    What a waste of government resources and money + annoyance to all the residents who have to listen. 

    • Jeepney January 5, 2023 (2:14 pm)

      Our governments waste plenty of money on other frivolous things as well, this one is actually cool.

    • Paul January 5, 2023 (3:25 pm)

      The government charges for this, its not something free.  Seahawks pay the bill

      • The King January 5, 2023 (6:33 pm)

        Plus they’ve got to do training anyways. People would rather point and screech though. 

    • Hammer in Hand January 5, 2023 (7:23 pm)

      The noise you hear is the sound of Freedom!! That we are all blessed with. I would call it practice with a purpose. This would be happening in and around JBLM if it wasn’t of the stadium. Let’s thank them for their service 

      • Barkley McDowel January 7, 2023 (7:04 am)

        Right on Hammer In Hand. Thank all those in uniform for their service. I teach my kids to say hi and thank you to SPD. 

  • sbre January 5, 2023 (1:03 pm)

    Love military flyovers!Go Hawks!!

  • James January 5, 2023 (1:45 pm)

    I hate these so much! So loud, pollution to the environment.  Awful!!!! This is so beyond upsetting. These jets could be libraries and houseless solutions but no people like to get their ooohs and ahhhhs from a silly low rent fireworks display. Military spending is so out of control. We need to cut it down by more than half!

    • Ron Swanson January 5, 2023 (3:03 pm)

      A: these aren’t jets, they’re helicopters;

      B: the pilots need practice flight time for training purposes anyway; and

      C: you’ll be happy that DoD has well trained helicopter crews in the area when the cascadia quake hits

    • Scarlett January 5, 2023 (5:35 pm)

      We need to shrink down small enough to drown it in the bathrub.   Eisenhower was right when he foresaw the military industrial complex having undue influence in our politics and becoming an anti-democratic force in our society.   

  • me January 5, 2023 (1:51 pm)

    very cool.

  • Rhonda January 5, 2023 (1:55 pm)

    I LOVE the military flyovers. I’m glad they’re doing practice runs so we can have more than one chance to watch them. Thanks for the heads-up.

  • Joan January 5, 2023 (2:09 pm)

    I don’t care who  pays and how much. I just hate the noise. Really really really hate it. We have enough stress in our lives. 

    • OneTimeCharley January 5, 2023 (4:34 pm)

      But…one person’s stress inducer can be another’s stress reliever. I offer this example. My neighbor has recently hung a large, bell-shaped windchime from the eve of their home, 40 feet above ground.  What’s more relaxing than a windchime, right? Well their home is also about 15 feet higher elevation than any of the homes East of theirs. Now whenever the wind goes above 10 mph everyone within 250 feet in any direction is exposed to the persistent clanging of their windchime whether they find it relaxing or not. I am 150 feet away and can hear what to my ear is simply a racket whenever the wind is blowing, or gusting, above 10 mph. If my window is cracked open, it sounds like a large machine in the distance going in and out of reverse making beeping noises. The object hung as an aide to stress relief for one is in fact causing stress for others; in this case us the neighbors. I am thinking of writing to them and pointing out that not all homes around them are just as insulated, or have anything other than single pane windows. Two of the neighbors within 200 feet are also disabled and sleep at irregular times; one home has a new born. Does the owner of the new mega loud windchime give a rats? Probably not. Do those who enjoy the flyovers? Ditto.

      • WestSeattleBadTakes January 5, 2023 (6:11 pm)

        The difference being, you could speak to your neighbor and ask them to take it down. I personally take mine down in the fall and winter because of the increased wind (and check with my neighbors regularly).

        What recourse does anyone here have to stop these flyovers? Especially when so many of our neighbors just don’t care at all and some relish in it.

        The fact you think these are comparable… oof we’re truly screwed.

    • uncle loco January 5, 2023 (5:46 pm)

      Living with all that hate would stress me out too.

      • OneTimeCharley January 5, 2023 (7:25 pm)

        LOL. What hate? I was simply pointing out what for some reliefs stress may in fact induce it in others. There is an avenue to express your strongly held feelings. Gee, maybe a letter to the Seahawks organization or the CO at JFBLM? Flyovers happen a few times a year and the interruption can be measured in minutes. Windchimes are year around on a fixed object with interruptions measuring in days. The fact you think these are comparable… oof I agree we really are truly screwed. Also, I could ask them directly to take it down, but writing the letter gently offers a point of view they may not have ever considered; also specific reasons to them why others may not feel the same way about their gigantic, clanging windchime in the sky. This way they decide on their own if the reasons are important enough to them. They may not like it, but it’s doubtful they would “like” me asking in person one iota more. Peace be with you all. 

        • uncle loco January 7, 2023 (5:00 am)

          My reply was to someone else. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out who is talking to who on these threads.

  • Jeepney January 5, 2023 (2:12 pm)

    Thanks for the advance notice!  My kiddos and I will be outside to watch the fun.  GO SEAHAWKS!

  • NotWoke January 5, 2023 (2:14 pm)

    Love the flyovers!

  • Admiral January 5, 2023 (2:50 pm)

    Thanks!  It always amuses how some West Seattleites FREAK out when military/commercial/private aircraft dare encroach upon our airspace. It’s pretty quiet here, but it’s not the National Mall folks lol 

  • alki98116 January 5, 2023 (3:43 pm)

    Let’s Rock! Love seeing my tax dollars at work. These young men and women, who would instantly go into harms way to rescue or protect us, are amazing. Oh! Go Hawks! 

    • John January 6, 2023 (9:03 am)

      I do not like these at all and they are a tax dollar WASTE. Not to mention pollution and noise and uselessness of it all. I don’t care about “training” when the training isn’t necessary because the military is way way way too big and needs to be shrunk by 70%.

  • momosmom January 5, 2023 (3:53 pm)

    And here it is 3:53pm and there are 15 replies on this flyover and zero to the South Park folks that need the help…I see if its not you thats being “putout” than you could care less

  • Flivver January 5, 2023 (4:12 pm)

    James;Joan. Commercial and private planes and helicopters make lots of noise and also pollute. Tell us what steps you’ve taken to try and reduce their #’s. 

  • Yes sir January 5, 2023 (4:50 pm)

    The sounds of Freedom. Go Seahawks

    • WestSeattleBadTakes January 5, 2023 (6:35 pm)

      Can you describe this freedom? What freedom do you derive from or confer onto these displays?

      • Hammer in Hand January 5, 2023 (7:27 pm)

        Well trained Hilo pilots to defend us if we ever have another 9-11 style act again

      • Flivver January 5, 2023 (8:36 pm)

        wsbt. I take it you’d be ecstatic if the military were defunded. Educate us on why we’d be fine without an army or navy or marines or air force.

  • DRW January 5, 2023 (5:02 pm)

    Best comments this year!

  • Also James January 5, 2023 (5:50 pm)

    Military flyovers are included in the Department of Defense training budget. For those who are curious, here is a breakdown of National Defense spending in the U.S. $754 billion altogether as of 2021. Meanwhile the GOP all but throw their wailing bodies on caskets with a measly $65 billion bipartisan infrastructure law because it has Biden’s name on it. People love saluting a military helicopter but lose their minds over roads giving an inch to pedestrian and bicycle access.

  • Scarlett January 5, 2023 (7:11 pm)

    “Department of Defense” is a misnomer and artful dodge from what the US military does best – be the aggressor.   It’s a myth that this monstrous, obscene financial outlay is needed to protect our shores or protect our so-called “freedoms.”   In large part, the U.S. military has become a volunteer band of mercenaries, funded by taxpayers, and this is big business.  If people were honest, they would call it what it was called at one time:  The Department of War.    

    • Flivver January 5, 2023 (8:34 pm)

      Scarlett. So, if you get your wish and the military is defunded. No army/navy/marines/air force.  Tell us why we’re better off and there’ll only be wonderful things that come from it.

    • wscommuter January 5, 2023 (9:04 pm)

      As the parent of one of those “volunteer band of mercenaries”, I’d very much like to hear you explain what you mean by this derogatory comment about our severely under-paid service people.  I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt – that you have something intelligent to say about our service folks being “mercenaries.”  I’m all ears.  

      • Scarlett January 5, 2023 (10:15 pm)

        We’ve been engaged in illegal wars around the world that have zero to do with protecting democracy or our shores.  Let me give you a few post-WWII examples:  The Iraq War, the Libyan Intervention,  Central America, Vietnam, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen.   Those are a few that you’ve heard about – heard about.   War is big, big business.  

        • wscommuter January 6, 2023 (8:45 am)

          Ah, so in your world view, unless a give war meets your definition of a morally just/necessary war, those sent to fight – and too often die – are “mercenaries”.   Setting aside one’s politics (and I happen to agree that several of the wars on your list were bad things), you might try using, you know, a dictionary, to understand what the word “mercenary” means and as well, to understand the context of that word.  Otherwise, you’re just a fool for demeaning those who give of themselves by serving in the armed forces.  

          • Scarlett January 6, 2023 (6:11 pm)

            I think you know what I meant by the term “mercenary.”  Participating in a foreign war that is unjust and illegal as a volunteer professional soldier, as opposed to a soldier in a conscription armed forces, is close enough.  The only difference is they aren’t hiring themselves out to a foreign country.   I’m not breaking any new ground here, the concerns about the military industrial complex and it’s control over both political parties goes back to Eisenhower.   

        • wscommuter January 6, 2023 (11:52 pm)

          I ask for some  rational reasoned position..  And you offer that volunteering instead of being drafted conveys some moral failure, in your eyes, for those who do so.  Wow.  Just … wow.  Ok.  But it’s good that you learned “military industrial complex” and understand that Ike coined the phrase.  Glad you paid attention in 7th grade civics.  Keep going  with that level of riveting insight; it’s all that simple.  Wow. 

    • Rhonda January 5, 2023 (9:52 pm)

      Our young men and women were/have been/are fighting and dying so you can sit here in peace and safety and complain about them and their missions. Even if you’re not grateful for them, they will keep you safe 24/7. I’ll thank them for you.

      • Also James January 6, 2023 (5:46 am)

        Young men and women fight and die for a military industrial complex but that part about peace and safety is horsefeathers. See Scarlett’s examples. If you really cared about the people who fight and die, then you’d unequivocally support universal healthcare for what comes after they fight and almost die.

        • Rhonda January 6, 2023 (2:03 pm)

          Both my husband and I fought (but were lucky enough to have survived) for this great Nation. The entitled who sit here in luxurious comfort and never had to witness the unfortunate millions who are suffering under oppressive, dastardly regimes cannot understand how wonderful we have it here.

  • Zipda January 5, 2023 (7:16 pm)

    I am very opposed to the Seahawks flying helicopters…….. Oh never mind.

  • Ant January 5, 2023 (10:43 pm)

    Why is the idea of a flying machine over a sporting event drive adults to act like it it’s the most magical thing in earth. 

    • John January 6, 2023 (9:06 am)

      It’s really sad that people think pollution and noise is a good use of their time. This is more of a problem with society than most trivial complaints here. People are okay with billions burned on military but complain about tipping high schoolers getting them an extra large ice cream coffee lol. It’s crazy.

  • Chuck Stevens January 5, 2023 (11:52 pm)

    West Seattle resident born here 1937.I remember the kingdom. 

  • Scubafrog January 6, 2023 (12:48 am)

    2nd Battalion, 158th Air Divison?   Thank goodness for men and women who’d defend this great nation, and for the men and women who have.  

  • CheeseWS777 January 6, 2023 (4:10 am)

    Dont worry about it too much guys, these other people will find something to complain and hate on whether they fly or not. On here every day doing it. Cant imagine the helicopters would be too much louder then the rest of the 12th man n e ways right? Go hawks!

  • Marcus January 6, 2023 (7:30 am)

    Wind Chimes, I really do not like them.  Not that the sound is not pleasing at times or the chimes have a nice tone.  It is the people who have made the decision that I should be in receipt of hearing their wind chimes.  I was not asked nor would I have approved.  Keep the wind chimes indoors and blow a fan on them if people want that, however please do not force me to get use to them.  Normal neighbor noise is certainly acceptable and the occasional night noise is fine.  Makes me wonder if people who hang outdoor wind chimes are are spreading the tones of love or just have a desire to be noticed.

  • Oakley34 January 6, 2023 (8:27 am)

    Go Sheep!

  • MoobsIPA January 6, 2023 (8:49 am)

    What a waste of resources. Probably publicly funded too. Just like in college, sports get all the money, while everything else suffers.

  • Scarlett January 6, 2023 (9:35 am)

    The mystique and fables surrounding the military continues.  The problem is real men and real women come back from unecessary interventions and wars with their bodies and minds broken.  So save your silly platitudes and cliches and fabricated offense for others.  By the way, the silence from the purported “Left” is absolutely deafening now that a Democrat is in the White House.   Every morning I get up I thank the great cosmos that I am not carrying water for any political party, nor seeking approval from anyone else  but my own conscience.   

  • Ex-Westwood Resident January 6, 2023 (11:38 am)

    Whenever I see the comments here complaining about the flybys, the Blue Angles, the ship and subs that we see transit the Puget Sound…etc., I am reminded of the entitled few that think the military is superfluous, mercenary, a drain on resources…etc., and I am reminded of a portion of a scene from a movie.

    “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

    I would rather that you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don’t give a DAMN what you think you’re entitled to!”

    I say this as a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, with 22 years of Active-Duty Service, during Desert Shield/Storm/Southern Watch, Restore Hope and the GWOT, along with other various operations/deployments.

     P.S. OVER $1,000,000,000 per year is spent by Seattle, King County, Washington, Federal Agencies and Private Entities on the HOMELESS population in Seattle and surrounding area ALONE!!!

    • T Rex January 6, 2023 (1:35 pm)

      Thank you, EX-WESTWOOD RESIDENT, and thank you for service.  I appreciate my freedom and I appreciate all the others that served this great country“Every morning I get up I thank the great cosmos that I am not carrying water for any political party, nor seeking approval from anyone else but my own conscience. ”  Thank you, Scarlett for reminding me that that despite people like you the USA is still a great country and still taking care of the world.  Tell the cosmos that we say hello.

  • James January 6, 2023 (1:29 pm)

    Think homeless spending is bad in this county? Imagine if you knew how much was spent bombing folks for oil. 

  • Amy January 6, 2023 (3:47 pm)

    If you have a problem with the money that is used for these, take it up with the Hawks.

  • Proud American January 8, 2023 (11:58 am)

    Flyover likely cancelled due to weather conditions. They have already cancelled once this Seahawks season due to low ceiling. These men and women who serve have been all over the world defending us…..so its a honor for them to showcase what they do at a NFL game.  I am proud of them and everyone else should be too. They fly 1000 missions with 0 fanfare and in some cases risking their lives.   They deserve this moment! 

  • Andrew January 8, 2023 (1:27 pm)

    What a waste of taxpayer’s money!

  • Alayna January 8, 2023 (1:33 pm)

    Did this happen?  I can’t imagine it did with the weather, but my dog was having a panic attack at 12:45 and I couldn’t figure out why… =\ 

Sorry, comment time is over.