No Thunderbirds in NC for 2012

Started by Bill L., Sat 12/10/11 07:02 AM

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Ryan K

Don't worry the Blue Angles has us covered, May 5-6 MCAS Cherry Point.

Bill L.

Air demonstration teams reduced for 2012

By Jill Laster - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 8, 2011 13:59:35 EST

The Air Force intends to sponsor only one of its six single-ship air demonstration teams for the 2012 season, the F-22, as the service grapples with budget cuts and limited resources.
The five other teams — A-10 East and West, F-16 East and West, and F-15E — won't fly next year, although Air Combat Command says it's too early to speculate what will happen in 2013.
The cuts won't affect the Air Force's main air demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, which will fly a full schedule in 2012, the team announced Dec. 7. The team will fly its F-16s for about 60 demonstrations in the U.S. and Canada.
The decision to cancel the season for the five single-ship teams is more about tight resources than cost savings, according to an emailed statement to Air Force Times from Air Combat Command. Cutting the number of air-demonstration teams will free up about 25 combat-ready fighter pilots and save more than 900 sorties that could be used for combat-readiness missions, according to the command.
"Given the significant fiscal constraints we face, it's critical we appropriately allocate our limited resources," the statement said. "The benefit in this decision is that we're able to reallocate more than $15 million to combat readiness training, supporting our mission of being the Air Force's primary force provider of combat airpower to warfighting commanders."
The team members who aren't flying in 2012 will resume regular duties in their squadrons, according to the command.


2012 THUNDERBIRDS SCHEDULE

The Thunderbirds plan about 60 demonstrations in more than 30 locations during the team's 2012 season. Here are the dates and places where you can catch a show:
• March 17: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
• March 31, April 1: Lakeland, Fla.
• April 14-15: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
• April 21-22: Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
• April 28-29: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• May 5-6: Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
• May 12-13: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
• May 19-20: March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
• May 23: Air Force Academy, Colo. (graduation flyover)
• May 26-27: Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
• June 2-3: Rockford, Ill.
• June 9-10: Ocean City, Md.
• June 16-17: North Kingstown, R.I.
• June 23-24: Indianapolis, Ind.
• June 30, July 1: Battle Creek, Mich.
• July 7-8: Gary, Ind.
• July 21-22: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
• July 25: Cheyenne, Wyo.
• July 28-29: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
• Aug. 4-5: Hillsboro, Ore.
• Aug. 11-12: Abbotsford, British Columbia.
• Aug. 17: Atlantic City, N.J.
• Aug. 25-26: Brunswick, Maine.
• Sept. 1-2: Davenport, Iowa.
• Sept. 8-9: Sacramento, Calif.
• Sept. 15-16: Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
• Sept. 22-23: Salinas, Calif.
• Sept. 29-30: McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
• Oct. 6-7: Fort Worth, Texas.
• Oct. 13-14: Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Oct. 20-21: El Paso, Texas.
• Oct. 27-28: Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
• Nov. 3-4: Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
• Nov. 10-11: Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.