A bad day for airshows... blue angels to follow?

[Python]

The tornado role demo team are a familiar and very popular site from the UK airshow scene. There low and loud flying combined with pyrotechnics was a joy to see and certainly wowed the crowds. Unfortunately they announced this morning that they won't be displaying again next year despite guaranteeing they would only a few weeks ago...

 

"In response to mounting speculation, the team regrets to inform you that a decision has been made to cancel the Tornado Role Demonstration participation in the 2013 airshow circuit season. We would like to sincerely thank everyone for the tremendous support we have received over the last 12 months."

 

from their FB page... https://www.facebook.com/TornadoRoleDemonstration?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

Cockpit video

 

Bad news for UK aviation fans then, but we aren't in it alone. I don't claim to know too much about current US politics but it seems the blue's may be in danger as well..

 

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/01/30/congressional-budget-inaction-may-kill-angels

[RoaringBones]

i'll never believe anything DC says until its actual Fact!

[wilky510]

It looks like they officially closed the annual Joint Andrews Airshow this year. So i honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Blue angels were next.

 

I never did see this coming, i've been going to Andrews Airshows for 13+ years now. I'm greatly disappointed. Looks like i may have to stay overnight in Virginia to see Oceana Airshows now.

Edited February 5, 2013 by wilky510

[aaron886]

The Blues would cancel some of their shows. The squadron would not be deactivated or anything earth-shattering like that.

[Dejjvid]

Too bad, that Role demo was awesome! I wonder just how much fuel they blow up for the last explosion. It was almost as awesome as seeing the A-10C live :)

[Python]

I agree, along with the black eagles, they were the highlight of all the shows I went to last year, they will be missed. Lets hope the blues escape the cuts.

[John Davy]

There goes the best and most photogenic display the RAF had since the loss of the Role Demo. Looking forward to hearing the RAF's justification for that.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

It looks like Blue Angels will show up at Barksdale this year. I've seen them live several times and they are just incredible. I hope to go see them again this year. Although, it would not surprise me if they reduce their activities if sequester takes place on March 1st.

[Python]

I hope the blue's pull through, I am yet to see them live.

 

It seems the Swiss may be next for the Axe... http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Air_Force_aerobatic_team_to_be_scrapped.html?cid=34976736

[104th_Maverick]

Cockpit video

 

 

Awesome way to start my day with a coffee, thanks for the vid!

 

Very sad news, the GR4 has been my favorite aircraft since I first saw it as a child. In the UK more and more 'cool' stuff is being taken away from the public, AFAIK RAF Leuchars won't be holding anymore airshows and the Army are due to move into the airbase this year. Some politician said he was going to appeal to RAF to keep the airshow going but I won't hold my breathe!

[Python]

Good isn't it... the lucky buggers. We will indeed have nothing left soon. I live near RAF Waddington myself in Lincolnshire. I am out all day for work and barely see any aircraft flying any more. I did see the red arrows in a winter sky yesterday which was nice though, one missing and one black hawk.

[Cali]

It looks like Blue Angels will show up at Barksdale this year. I've seen them live several times and they are just incredible. I hope to go see them again this year. Although, it would not surprise me if they reduce their activities if sequester takes place on March 1st.

 

This will be the first time I have seen them fly, looking forward to it.

[mikoyan]

I don't think you will be disappointed, honestly. Even better if they show Fat Albert taking off with rockets! the mirror move is pretty awesome too.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/01/17149624-military-spending-cuts-ground-blue-angels-thunderbirds?lite

 

This was what I was afraid of. I don't know now if they will show up at Barksdale.

[Cali]

Was planning on going to the air show, then the next week on a 5-7 day cruise to the Bahamas. If they aren't going to be there, then I guess I can move the date of my cruise up. I hope they figure it out by Mid-March.

[Python]

Wow, that's worse than expected presumably. Is this the end of the Thunderbirds then if their whole season has been cancelled? I hope not.

[Cali]

Thunderbirds cancel all shows in 2012 and hours cut for air force flying by as much as 18%.

 

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123338424

[Invader ZIM]

Ugh, this is terrible news..... I'm glad I got to see the JATO of Fat Albert with the Blue Angels though a few years ago, and the F-22 demonstration as well before the cutbacks. Hopefully this will all be temporary and in a few years will be back again in force.

[Blaze]

Thunderbirds cancel all shows in 2012 and hours cut for air force flying by as much as 18%.

 

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123338424

 

They still plan on flying at the Titusville, FL airshow March 23rd & 24th (I'll be there), but all shows after April 1st are cancelled for now.

[Cali]

They still plan on flying at the Titusville, FL airshow March 23rd & 24th (I'll be there), but all shows after April 1st are cancelled for now.

 

That's what the article says, no shows after April 1st....I wonder if it's an April's fools trick :D

[KLR Rico]

My base (Fairchild, WA) was supposed to have an airshow in June, but it's been canceled now...

[OutOnTheOP]

No, it's true: I'm DoD, and one of the orders memoranda that we received in the past few days on budgetary guidance for dealing with the "fiscal uncertainty" stated that until the money issues are sorted, there will be NO demonstration flights authorized. Sole exception is for formation flights in support of military funerals.

[tomcatter]

Same here in Spain, we have here in Barcelona a really good airshow on the beech.

Usually lots of jet aircrafts doing their things. Hornets, vipers, alpha-jets, F-5, Eurofighters, Harriers, L39, mirages and more had been crossing the skies in the last few years.

Last year we had just a Mustang, a Spit and a Super Fury.

And from the news i know this year maybe we get a balloon and a cessna.....

No money, no military aircrafts.

We had a bad economic situation, and i understand that some savings have to be done, but maybe once a year the budget can be more generous with the expectations of the tax payers¡¡¡¡¡

[Invader ZIM]

We had a bad economic situation, and i understand that some savings have to be done, but maybe once a year the budget can be more generous with the expectations of the tax payers¡¡¡¡¡

 

I agree, having airshows, flyovers and displays is one of the ways the military generates interest and and local commerce and shows the public where some of the tax money is being spent.

 

I really miss the ones they had out our way from our local Air Wing.

[KLR Rico]

^^ Good point.

 

I grew up near El Toro MCAS, CA. I have no doubt that the airshows there every year (along with the day to day ops) made an impression on me growing up, and probably had a huge impact on my decision to get into the military, and my interest in aviation overall.