READING the various letters of complaint about noise from Tucano aircraft flying from Linton-on-Ouse, I am reminded of the Australian joke.

How do you know a plane load of poms have landed?

When the engines are turned off ,the whining does not stop.

I am sure the complainants want an efficient, well-trained defence force, but not in their backyard.

I am also sure they do not give a fig for people living next to an airport, railway line, motorway, when they are on the move.

For seven years, my wife and I brought up three children living on the flight path of a naval air base which was seven miles away flying twin-engined fast jets 24 hours a day.

We were also on the edge of the landing circuit of an RAF base. Yes we had noise and TV reception problems, but we enjoyed a good life.

For the past 30 years, we have lived within 50 yards of York Racecourse. This not only has noise, but also traffic problems.

If we did not like our lot we would move.

All the RAF moaners ought to put up with their lot, or move.

J Skelton,

Bracken Road,

York.

Updated: 11:38 Saturday, January 08, 2005