USAF Thunderbirds

[edehtx]

http://afthunderbirds.com/site/2013/03/ ... t-april-1/

[wamovements]

Formally they are right, for the moment all airshow appearances by the Thunderbirds (and all other USAF/Navy/Marines appearaneces) starting form 1 April-1October (fy13) have been cancelled. However it is possible that the issues resulting in these sequestration cuts might be solved, they return to airshows in fy13. The team remains operational for the rest of the season. It is up to the politics if fy13 will be shortened by no less than 203,000 flying hours or that these automatic cuts will be reversed.

Official statment by the U.S. Navy Tac Demo: "The USN TACDEMO teams will execute the air shows at El Centro, CA, Columbus, GA, and Key West, FL in March of 2013 and then SHOULD WE STAY SEQUESTERED we will be forced to cancel all remaining shows on a MONTH BY MONTH basis. Airshows scheduled after March of 2013 should not expect a USN TACDEMO team until notified otherwise as the US Navy is uncertain how long it will take, once a budget solution has been reached, before we are able to retrain our demonstration aircrew and resume performances in a manner that is consistent with other USN/USAF TACDEMO teams."

[cHabu]

Air Force cuts aviation support at public events

3/1/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- As the Air Force braces for potential sequester, leadership has cancelled
all aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of the fiscal year and is standing down the
Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team to save flying hours to support readiness needs.

Effective today, active-duty, Reserve and Guard units will cease all aviation support to the public. This includes the
cancellation of support to all air shows, tradeshows, flyovers (including funerals and military graduations),
orientation flights, heritage flights, F-22 demonstration flights and open houses, unless the event includes only
local static assets.

Additionally, the Air Force will cancel the Thunderbirds' entire 2013 season beginning April 1.

=> Full news release HERE

Credit: USAF

Rgds, Chris.

[Frisian]

Hmmm, April 1, serious or April fools day.

[Hurricane]

Hmmm, April 1, serious or April fools day.

Don't expect this to be an April fools day prank.

[ehusmann]

Dead serious unfortunately. The sequestrian actions are no joke, the government is required by law to cut costs and this is the effect. If this turns out to be a April fools prank it will be the best one ever, but I given that 0% chance of happening.

Erwin

[Heron]

Saw this yesterday on Flickr-group Aircraft Display on Pole, at Stick or as Gateguard (though it was placed in that group on february 9th, 2013:

URGENT NEWS!!! Hello, by now everyone knows the budget crisis for airshows. If they go into action, this will mean cancellation of ALL military support for airshows after April 1 AND less crowd attendance. Military support is THE KEY to Airshows! This petition I am giving will put an end to it and I need EVERYONE to sign it EVEN if it includes signing up! It is only a few seconds to sign and is worth ALL the time! This petition also counts for the Thunderbirds and F-22 Demo. PLEASE SHARE and spread the word to EVERYONE you know! This CANNOT happen and we need ALL the support! This means telling everyone you know, sharing on Facebook, and email blasts! We need to do WHATEVER it takes to end this situation! Heres the link:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petiti ... -flight...

Please sign and respond back to me when you have contacted as much people as possible. Again, this CANNOT HAPPEN!!!!
Thank you for supporting this petition and it WILL make a difference on this situation!

[Erik_7Xi]

That petition is rather short sighed to be honest - the Air Force is now so underfunded that is cutting all things not absolutely vital to ensure that sufficient flight hours can be afforded to retain combat readiness.

Not having the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels or any A-10, F-22 or F-16 demo at any airshow is insignificant to maintenance being delayed and front line fighters not being retained at combat readiness.
(See also http://defense.aol.com/2013/02/21/air-f ... -non-comb/ )

I bet China, North Korea and Iran are laughing their pants off at the moment. So much for our precious democracy - the largest air arm in the world now has its pants dropped to its ankles due to 'free world politics'.

[larrythechief]

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.)

[SquAdmin]

This goes even further than the Thunderbirds if I understand this correctly:

unless the event includes only local static assets

This would rule out any static display of USAF aircraft at non-USAF bases (including Fairford).