Sequester cuts force St. Cloud to ax air show
Signs of the sequestration are starting to show up around the state.
Organizers on Tuesday canceled the St. Cloud Air Show because the Blue Angels, the Navy's flight demonstration squad that was scheduled to perform, do not know if they will be able to fly this summer.
The budget cutting known as "sequestration" has put nonessential military spending into question. Show organizers say the military support to house the Blue Angeles in St. Cloud had already been pulled.
The cancellation was disappointing, said Jill Magelssen, the air show's chairwoman.
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"We were hearing that they hadn't decided if the season was going to be canceled yet," Magelssen said. "We may be hearing soon. It wasn't looking too positive ... and the further we get into it, the more expenses we were going to incur."
Cuts elsewhere served as a warning sign for St. Cloud, Magelssen said: "Other military jet teams for the Air Force have already canceled their seasons, and so ... it was looking very much like the Blue Angels needing to cancel as well would definitely impact our show."
She added: "If the opportunity presents that the Blue Angeles will maybe be able to visit St. Cloud and we are possibly able to host them, we certainly will be happy to entertain that at that time."
The air show was scheduled for July 20-21 at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. This year it was to be a fundraiser for Central Minnesota Council of Boy Scouts.
The 800 tickets sold so far can be refunded, Magelssen said.
