Looks Like the Thunderbird's and Blue Angels are Scheduling Shows Again

I'm sort of torn on this one. On the one hand, I like cool jets flying around making a lot of noise. On the other hand, I'm not sure that convincing a bunch of Tapout Kidz to sign up to service our nation's defense forces is, you know, long term, the best survival strategy for the Republic. Don't get me wrong, our mechanic is a Chair Force dude, and he's awesome. But I get the impression that he didn't sign up because someone flew an F-16 over his house and blew out all the windows. He seems more like the "Oh, so you're going to pay for college? Keep talking, I'm listening." type.

I mean, uh, I guess it's a good recruiting tool for dudes who need to wear water-wings to take a bath without drowning and can be taught to salute anything that moves and paint anything that doesn't, but past that...
 
MCAS Cherry Point cancelled their air show this coming year for many of the reasons stated above. Looks like the US Marine Corps understands what is important and what is not. Nice work!

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Boyington said:
MCAS Cherry Point cancelled their air show this coming year for many of the reasons stated above. Looks like the US Marine Corps understands what is important and what is not. Nice work!
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Clever wording in the press release.
 
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Pilot Fighter said:
According to the GAO, the 96 MDAPs from FY2008 collectively ran $296 billion over budget.

If you want symbolic measures, I guess the Blues and Thunderbirds would be a good place to start.
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So what you and @Nark are saying is that it is OK we still have these Thunderbirds and Blue Angels flying as the military is over budget so 'who cares'?
 
MikeD said:
My proposal with regards to fiscal realities?

Combine the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels into one single US Military aerial demo team with a different name. Can even have dissimilar aircraft: 3 F-16s and 3 F/A-18s, combined into one team.
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And Have the best pilots flying with the Air Force....Not a chance......
 
USMCmech said:
You know this how exactly?
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Using these as tools to recruit is like going on the Bachelor to find 'true love'. All flash but no substance.

I thought supposed 'fiscal conservatives' like you and @Nark claim to be would be all over budget cuts. Or do these not count as this has to do with the military?
 
MikeD said:
My proposal with regards to fiscal realities?

Combine the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels into one single US Military aerial demo team with a different name. Can even have dissimilar aircraft: 3 F-16s and 3 F/A-18s, combined into one team.
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You could totally do this! You could call them the Blue Falcons! (Blue Thunder was already taken by a cheesy helicopter movie.)
 
Seggy said:
Using these as tools to recruit is like going on the Bachelor to find 'true love'. All flash but no substance.

I thought supposed 'fiscal conservatives' like you and @Nark claim to be would be all over budget cuts. Or do these not count as this has to do with the military?
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It's a matter of scale.

The $30 million dollar Blue Angels budget isn't the problem, $300 billion in cost overruns is a problem. Acquisition and retention of weapon systems and manpower that does not improve combat readiness or capabilities is a problem.

It is very possible to cut defense spending by 30% AND increase readiness and capabilities.
 
Pilot Fighter said:
It's a matter of scale.

The $30 million dollar Blue Angels budget isn't the problem, $300 billion in cost overruns is a problem. Acquisition and retention of weapon systems and manpower that does not improve combat readiness or capabilities is a problem.
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Fiscal conservatives LOVE to bitch about $30,000,000 going to say NPR, PBS, 'Chicago Park System', the Department of Education student loan program, etc. as it leads to 'fiscal irresponsibility' when we are trillions in the hole, yet don't touch their military spending because it is a 'matter of scale'.

Hypocrisy at its finest folks!
 
Seggy said:
Fiscal conservatives LOVE to bitch about $30,000,000 going to say NPR, PBS, 'Chicago Park System', the Department of Education student loan program, etc. as it leads to 'fiscal irresponsibility' when we are trillions in the hole, yet don't touch their military spending because it is a 'matter of scale'.

Hypocrisy at its finest folks!
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Educated fiscal conservatives know that funding for NPR, PBS, and the park system isn't the problem just like they understand that funding for the Blue Angels isn't the problem.

There is not a military officer that can't tell you ways to significantly cut the defense budget. My point is that we should start with questioning billion dollar programs, not million dollar programs.
 
Pilot Fighter said:
Educated fiscal conservatives know that funding for NPR, PBS, and the park system isn't the problem just like they understand that funding for the Blue Angels isn't the problem.
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That isn't what the supposed fiscal conservatives have said on here.
 
Derg said:
Let's give it to the Civil Air Patrol! Woot!

"At airshow left, here comes ten T-41's demonstrating a standarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd rate turn! Put your hands together!"
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You laugh.....When the Angels were at KMKT a couple years ago, the show had several a/c from the Minnesota State-Mankato flight training program in the show as well...

My youngest, Alex (11 at the time) says to me...."Oooh, Dad look at those guys. They look kinda dorky in a show with Blue Angels....
 
Seggy said:
That isn't what the supposed fiscal conservatives have said on here.
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You do now it's the internet.

The internet is the "Decorator Crab" of philosophical debate.

You got cable, LOOK IT UP! :)
 
Derg said:
Let's give it to the Civil Air Patrol! Woot!

"At airshow left, here comes ten T-41's demonstrating a standarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd rate turn! Put your hands together!"
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I mentioned to @MikeD that I wouldn't mind seeing a USN/AF team flying T-6 JPATS like the Aussies (PC-9).
 
Derg said:
You do now it's the internet.

The internet is the "Decorator Crab" of philosophical debate.

You got cable, LOOK IT UP! :)
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I used to have a decorator crab in my reef tank...

I think it is a waste of money. I'm pretty sure sending a few recruiters to High Schools with cool videos on career day works for many. Seafair seemed to do ok with L-29's doing some flying around. I would rather see this small budget go to help Vets with health and mental rehabilitation.
 
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