Monday, March 04, 2013

CNX

From the Usual USAF Source:
Out of the Public Eye: Due to the budget sequester, the Air Force has cancelled all aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of Fiscal 2013, and is standing down the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team to preserve flying hours for readiness needs, announced service officials. "Engaging with the public is a core Air Force mission and communicating and connecting with the public is more important today than ever before. However, faced with deep budget cuts, we have no choice but to stop public aviation support," said Brig. Gen. Les Kodlick, Air Force public affairs director, in the service's March 1 release. Effective March 1, Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units ceased all aviation support at air shows, tradeshows, and open houses, unless the event includes only local static assets; they also stopped flyovers (including at funerals and military graduations), orientation flights, heritage flights, and F-22 demonstration flights, states the release. Cancellation of the Thunderbirds' 2013 flying season takes effect on April 1, according to the release. Thunderbirds and heritage flight crews will complete their certification procedures in case the budget allows resumption of scheduled events in 2013, states the release. (See also Sequestration's Disconnect.)
Rumor has it the Blue Angles (<=== not a typo) will follow suit:
Update on Blue Angels canceled rumors: With sequestration in effect, NAF El Centro, which marks the beginning of the 2013 air show season, could be in jeopardy of being nixed. Because Obama and Congress failed to prevent the sequester from occurring Friday, the popular Blue Angles (<=== typo) air show could be scrapped as part of mandatory spending cuts. However, at this time, no official word has been given. With April fast approaching, fans want clarity.
I saw this coming from a long ways off.

4 comments:

  1. I read something about this at NavyOne's blog. You know how I love an airshow. Hopefully Angels and Thunderbirds will be performing. I guess we could settle for the Canadian Snowbirds.

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    1. The Snowbirds are good, I've seen 'em a couple o' times.

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  2. This is a challenging time to be in the military. Love the Blue Angles bit. . .

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