The U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, have been shut down for the rest of the fiscal year. The government's crushing debt issues require this drastic move.
I understand the Econ 101 perspective. If money is tight, you have to prioritize. Some items or events have to drop off the list. No argument there.
But, as an aviation fan, it is a dark day. I agree with the perspective that demonstration teams like the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Black Knights aid in recruiting in this era of all-volunteer military forces. Countless young men and women were inspired to serve by seeing what's possible through performances by these teams.
Those young people who don't grow up near a military installation are a group that I feel gain appreciable benefit from seeing these teams live. In many of those cases, the team's performance may be the only day of a particular year where the locals can see up close military capability and talk directly to those operators and maintainers who make the shows possible. When one hears the passion and commitment directly from the service members, it is inspiring.
In my career, I was blessed to work airshows with the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Britain's Red Arrows. It was a joy to share what I did with fellow aviation buffs. In time, the demonstration teams may get back to flying. For now, though, I feel for those people who don't get to see the teams in person this year.
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