The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have been canceled after President Obama and congressional leaders were unable to avoid a sequester of $85 billion in Washington Friday, NBC News reports March 1.
Due to the sequester, the Navy will cancel four shows in April -- in Tampa, Fla.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Vidalia, Ga.; and Beaufort, S.C. Whether the jets will fly in shows later this year hasn't been determined yet, a U.S. Military official told the news source.
As for the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force issued a statement saying the entire 2013 season has been canceled. They plan to halt all air shows, trade shows, flyovers, and open houses.
Obama said in a radio address that the sequester of $85 billion happened because Republicans were resistant to "closing a single wasteful tax loophole that helps reduce the deficit."
Canceling the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds appearance at air shows around the nation is a sad reality about the country's predicament in federal spending. The Naval and Air Force jets have been an American icon and to see them grounded is disheartening to many.
The sequester also means reducing military readiness along with ship and aircraft maintenance. A Naval spokesman said the Blue Angels have to take a back seat to "making sure ships are seaworthy and planes are airworthy for the war fighters who are operating overseas."
Will the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds make it back to air shows in the future or has the American public seen the last of these amazing pilots and fighter jets?
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