The Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow and open house held at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has been cancelled due to “threat of operating under a continuing resolution and a potential sequestration,” the Air Force announced Friday. The event was scheduled for May 3-5 and may be among numerous other military airshows cancelled. No future dates have been set for the Langley event. Sequestration in lieu of other U.S. government action on budgetary issues could remove substantial funding from the military and may halt future performances by military demonstration teams like the Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.
Col. Korvin Auch, 633rd Air Base Wing Commander, told reporters the Air Force must consider “fiscal challenges” affecting the nation and is “taking prudent steps now in order to be good stewards of taxpayer resources while focusing on maintaining readiness.” NAS Oceana officials say no final decisions have been made regarding performances by the Blue Angels scheduled for the third and fourth quarter, local news station wavy.com reported. But officials said on Feb. 12 that the Navy has plans to cancel 30 Blue Angels shows this year if sequestration cuts are allowed to take effect, March 1. Multiple congressmen have suggested they would back grounding the Blue Angels as part of the cuts. “In order to do what this country needs to do, we can no longer afford to do the things we like to do,” Rep. Jeff Miller told Floridatoday.com. Miller represents Florida’s 1st district and includes an image of the Blue Angles on his congressional web page. He is also a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.
