IN response to John Reed (Letters, December 31), I feel sickened that people are campaigning about the noise produced by Tucanos from Linton-on-Ouse.

The Tucano is an excellent piece of engineering. How can it be replaced by an aeroplane which is smaller?

Maybe the reason why you only ever see them performing basic manoeuvres is because if they were to perform aerobatics and have dog fights over your house, the moaners would have stress-related heart attacks.

They do train over sea but this isn't possible all the time. Our pilots could always learn to fly above the sea permanently and then hope that the UK mainland were never invaded.

May I remind you that the aeroplane used before the Tucano, the Jet Provost, operated with jet engines. Would that not be more of a nuisance?

The RAF is excellent, without a doubt. Its training is second to none. The Tucano is a beautiful aeroplane. How many of us look up to the sky and gasp in amazement as Tucanos fly past in close formation?

Where I live, which is close to Linton, these aeroplanes only fly over a couple of times a day for a few seconds. I can't see how this can affect anybody in a negative way.

Also, I must share my disappointment at Mr Reed's effort to use the Tucano as an excuse to have a stab at our country's relationship with America. Stop complaining about issues with little significance and start concentrating on the real issues, as suggested by you - schools and hospitals.

I would like to hear about anybody who has as much respect for our trainee pilots as I do. If we do not speak up, the people who do complain will change the operation of the RAF for the worse.

Mike Holden,

Longcroft,

Wigginton, York.

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, January 04, 2005