It annoys me to hear of people who complain about noise pollution caused by Tucano aeroplanes (Letters, February 17).

They are not massively loud. I'm sure that if they wished to they could fly all night every night.

The fact they don't can only mean they do care about local residents.

You cannot put a price on the quality of these young officers' training. Without it we would not have one of the best-trained air forces in the world.

These pilots are trying their hardest to be the best. So, if you do hate the sound of planes, you shouldn't have moved so close to this busy RAF base.

I hear and see Tucanos flying over all the time, but it doesn't bother me because I can sleep at night knowing I have such a good air force protecting me.

Mike Holden,

Longcroft,

Wigginton, York.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, February 19, 2004