Although the Blue Angels are the “the pride of the Navy,” according to U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, the government shutdown has prevented the demonstration team from performing in the public eye for two weeks.
Entering its 14th day, the shutdown has prevented the Blue Angels from performing in two scheduled air shows so far this season and may force them to miss scheduled public practices as well, which Patronis says gives him a “disappointing chill.”
“We just celebrated the Navy’s 250th birthday yesterday,” Patronis said. “Here we’ve got a service commitment to our country that’s 250 years old, and we’re having some difficulty celebrating the sacrifice those men and women have done for so many generations.
“The Blue Angels are not able to do business as usual, and it’s a disappointment,” he added. “It’s not just a disappointment to this market, but all over the country where there are shows that are on hold right now.”
Although there is still another month until the Homecoming Air Show in Pensacola, the Blue Angels’ scheduled practices that are traditionally made public have been canceled due to the shutdown, with the team performing off-schedule practices almost daily while they wait for the government to reopen.
But that could quickly change, according to Patronis, once an agreement is reached in Congress to fund the federal government, allowing the Blues to return to their normal schedule rather quickly.
“They know their job, they know their routine, (but) their battle rhythm is definitely interrupted,” Patronis said. “I do feel like (a return) would be in short order that once we have an agreement in place and the (continuing resolution) is in place, then we’ll move forward.”
Others, such as the showrunners of the Wings Over Georgia event, are hopeful the Blue Angels could return to their public air show schedule by Oct. 18, when the team is supposed to fly in the air show in Rome, Georgia.
“As of today, the Blue Angels are planning to perform next weekend at the 2025 Wings Over North Georgia airshow in Rome, Georgia,” the showrunner posted to the official air show’s Facebook page Oct. 13. “All indications we have received this week points to at least the military portion of the government shutdown will be resolved in enough time for them to make our show.”
When were the Blue Angels supposed to practice and sign autographs?
The Blue Angels’ first practice of October was scheduled for Oct. 15, but with the government shutdown, the public practice will be canceled along with the autograph signing that was supposed to take place afterwards.
There is still time, however, for the government to reopen before their next scheduled practice on Oct. 21, which could be made public as long as NAS Pensacola reopens to non-DoD card holders.
If the government does reopen, the public could still make it to NAS Pensacola to watch the Blues’ final four practices on Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29.
What is the Blue Angels remaining air show schedule?
If the government reopens, here is the Blue Angels’ remaining air show schedule:
October
November
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels could return in time for Pensacola Homecoming Air Show
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
