Budget cuts end Blue Angels' 2013 season
Source: AP
Posted: 2:11 PM
PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION, Fla. - The U.S. Navy has canceled the remainder of the elite Blue Angels demonstration team's 2013 season because of federal cuts.
The commander of Naval air forces announced the decision on Tuesday.
The Blue Angels have performed at air shows around the world for more than 60 years. The fighter pilots selected to serve a two-year tour with the team are among the world's best and are often graduates of the Navy's famed Top Gun air tactics school.
A spokesman for the Navy said team members would be allowed to fly minimal hours to maintain flight proficiency in the F/A 18 fighter jets, but the six-jet squadron would discontinue group practices for the remainder of the season.
Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/national/budget-cuts-end-blue-angels-2013-season
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)and the taxpayers
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)I said just what you posted before opening the thread. I thought it would be full of woe and sorrow for losing this exposition of flight.
Save the fucking fuel!
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Is it because blue clashes with orange? (cf. New York Mets )
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)the funds to pay for ONE F-35 JSF???
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)but I am not too keen on the militarist message. Time for a Peace Show!
GiveMeFreedom
(976 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)As a child I always enjoyed the Air Show.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)I really like things that go Zooooooooooom!
Isn't it the god-given right of every Murikan to have things that go Zoooooooom?
26 Blue Angel pilots have died in those shows. 19 Thunderbird pilots have died.
The shows cost about $200,000 each... and that's beyond the cost of the fuel, planes, maintenance, and crews.
The schedules of the Thunder Birds and Blue Angels, alone, for this year include 61 total shows.
The basic acquisition price of an F/A-18 A Hornet is approximately $21 million per plane. However, after being specially equipped, each plane costs $56 million.
The US Navy budgets about $40 million a year to maintain the squadron.
It costs $13,344,000 in fuel alone (based on 2010 fuel prices) to just train one Commanding Officer and $85,957,200 in fuel for the training of the 14 other pilots.
According to the Boston Phoenix, in 2007, annual salaries for 114 support personnel cost $5.6 million. Pilot salaries cost approximately $12 million annually.
It costs roughly $20 million in fuel expenses for shows (rehersals and performances, based on 2010 jet fuel price) a year.
Plus, it costs approximately $2 million on staff lodging and meals to do these shows each year.
I would imagine the Thunderbirds cost a similar amount.
But... they do go Zooooooom! I gots to have me some Zoooooom!
mikeytherat
(6,829 posts)'Rock You Like A Hurricane?' What kind of countrified rube is still impressed by that?" - Sideshow Bob, The Simpsons
mikey_the_rat
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)PB