An in-depth report on the grassroots opposition to basing F-35 fighter jets in Madison.
Available as an audio documentary and a four-part written series, Flight Path is a partnership project of Tone Madison, Communication, and Northside News. The Air Force officially chose Madison as a site for the jets in April. But the fight continues in areas that stand to bear the brunt of the F-35s’ noise, environmental, and economic impacts. These efforts have already brought neighbors together to organize and advocate for their communities in a changing Madison.
Reporter Oona Mackesey-Green focuses on the people and the work behind the opposition, and the very real human impact the presence of fighter jets has on some of Madison’s most diverse and affordable neighborhoods.
Listen
Flight Path is available as an hour-long audio documentary. Listen here or subscribe to the Tone Madison Podcast on the podcasting platform of your choice.
Read
Flight Path will also be published serially as a four-part written report.
- May 6: How F-35s galvanized neighbors in Eken Park
- May 7: Rights signed away and forgotten
- May 11: “Loud but affordable”
- May 12: The fight continues
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Flight Path: When resistance takes off
An audio documentary kicks off our in-depth series on the neighborhood activism against the basing of fighter jets in Madison.
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Flight Path Part 1: How F-35s galvanized neighbors in Eken Park
The proposal to base new fighter jets in Madison inspired an extraordinary and fast organizing effort.
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Flight Path Part 2: Rights signed away and forgotten
How activists dug up obscure documents that will make it harder for people dealing with the F-35s’ noise to soundproof their homes.
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Flight Path Part 3: “Loud but affordable”
Callous commentary and weak leadership from elected officials have marred the debate over basing F-35s in Madison.
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Flight Path Part 4: The fight continues
Madisonians who’ve organized against the F-35s have learned a great deal, and can still hold local leaders accountable.
Learn more and take action
Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin Coalition
Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement
Information about PFAS in Madison from the Midwest Environmental Justice Organization
F-35 EIS Staff Analysis from the Mayor’s office
Avigation easement information from Solidarity Realty
Support independent journalism in Madison
There are a few ways to help out the organizations that partnered up to create Flight Path.
- Become a Tone Madison Sustainer to help fund reader-supported journalism on arts, culture, and politics in Madison.
- Donate to Northside News to support the Northside Planning Council’s community newspaper.
- Support Communication through this east side arts nonprofit’s Etsy Shop and Patreon.
Credits and acknowledgements
Reported, produced, and written by Oona Mackesey-Green
Facilitation and additional production by Tessa Echeverria Perez
Audio edited by Sarah Jennings Evans
Theme music by Auscultation
Graphics by Scott Gordon, Oona Mackesey-Green, and Mark Riechers
Text edited by Scott Gordon
Flight Path is supported in part by a grant from the SASY Neighborhood Association.
