Loss of revenue-air shows

[gypsyman]

They still haven't figured out how many millions of dollars, the shut down of the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds air shows, are going to be. Vendors at the shows, gas stations and restaurants losing business. Yep, another ObieWanKanobie boondoggle. gypsyman

[Old Fart]

I think even the blind are starting to see the cuts have been maiximized to cause discomfort to the tax payers, not so much to any one else...

[dukkillr]

If the government spending on airshows creates a net positive income for those areas then a group of local businesses will collect money and pay the costs themselves.  Here's a guess, it doesn't.  Further, I bet it isn't close.
 
I'm disgusted that our government is acting like a disgruntled child about the cuts, but I'm not backing down on the cuts in general.  I'd rather lose then blue angels than not have the cuts at all, and sadly, those are my only two choices right now.
 
And this is from a guy who lost a morning of turkey hunting last week due to the FAA pouting.

[yellowtail3]

And this is from a guy who lost a morning of turkey hunting last week due to the FAA pouting.

How did the FAA screw up your turkey hunt?

[Conan The Librarian]

The aerobat teams are a perfect example of something that needs to be cut. There may have been some function decades ago, but even the "fighter" pilots today say that there is no longer such a thing as a dogfight. If you're worried about hotels and restaurants and gas stations, just send each one of them a check for a million dollars, and it's probably cheaper than fielding one of the aerobat teams.
 
There used to be blue angels. Now there are thunderbirds? Why? Looks like more government redundancy to me.

[yellowtail3]

The aerobat teams are a perfect example of something that needs to be cut. There may have been some function decades ago, but even the "fighter" pilots today say that there is no longer such a thing as a dogfight. If you're worried about hotels and restaurants and gas stations, just send each one of them a check for a million dollars, and it's probably cheaper than fielding one of the aerobat teams.
 
There used to be blue angels. Now there are thunderbirds? Why? Looks like more government redundancy to me.

There might be dogfights, if things have really gone wrong. The Blue Angels are still around. On Thunderbirds... the AF wanted its own team, being a new service and all, and was jealous of naval aviators.  I remember back in the 80s when all four of them flew their T-38s into the ground. 

[guzzijohn]

In the US and Canada combined there are about 335 air shows a year. If you use the figures given by the International Council of Air Shows, average revenue generated per show is around $435,000. The average cost of a single Blue Angels performance is around $570,000. Now do keep in mind that the Angels participate in around 35 shows a year. My guess is they cost more than they bring in.
GuzziJohn

[Shu]

I love airshows. Unfortunately are spend, spend and spend some more government needs to make cuts and is basically unwilling to make good decisions. ( Like stop giving money to countries who hate us, or other entitlement programs) . All government agencies were told to trim 8% from their total budget. Airshows are expensive but so is funding bombings in other nations civil wars. Really the choice is entertain Americans or meddle in another governments affairs, Which would you choose?

[gypsyman]

Well, why not shut down 10-15 military bases overseas, and keep the money for the air shows. In this day and age, with the navy we have, better off letting them do all the defense. A hard target, like a military base, much easier target, than floating airbases, that can quickly move from ocean to ocean. Plus, all the foreign aid. How much to keep the air shows going compared to aid?? gypsyman