Pensacola businesses could lose in cuts to Blue Angels

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - The Blue Angels have a knack for thrilling and it doesn’t take riding in one yourself to understand why hundreds of thousands of people flock to their shows every year.

With the April shows now canceled and more cuts possibly looming, businesses in the area are bracing for the potential economic impact not having an air show aboard NAS Pensacola or Pensacola Beach would cause.

Samuel Miller and Hannelore Miller, co-owners of Feminine Flair in Pensacola, have been making the suits the Blues pilots fly in for around 26 years.

“We get a great deal of pride in seeing our suits go out there. They’ve been in Russia and all over the world. It’s a very proud moment when we do that,” said Miller.

Businesses on the beach say the air show compares to a July 4 weekend — losing that could hurt.

But for Miller, who founded his small business originally to fashion women’s clothing, it could be critical.

“Since we no longer make many military uniforms or swim wear, it would take about 50 percent of our business. Anytime you take that away from any small business, it’s devastating,” Miller said.

Miller says each suit is made up of two-and-a-half yards of Nomax, a fire resistant material. It takes more than a day just to make one.

He says the cuts could cost several employees their jobs.

“I certainly believe (the country is) spending more than we should be and I think there should be cutbacks, I just don’t see this as one of the best choices. Of course it will impact my business but I still think it’s a mistake," Miller said.

If future shows are canceled, officials on Pensacola Beach are considering privately funding Blues practice flights over Pensacola Beach.

Budget cuts due to sequestration have grounded the team for the month of April, the Navy said after the March 1 cuts took effect.

This affects air shows in Tampa, Corpus Christi, Vidalia, Georgia and Beaufort, South Carolina.

The Blues have two shows in March before returning to Pensacola for training but the Navy is still deciding how much time — and money — the Blues will be allowed to spend.

The move also leaves future Blue Angels shows in question, including the homecoming air show onboard NAS Pensacola and the Pensacola Beach air show.

The Pentagon spends $37 million annually for the Blue Angels, whose mission is to enhance recruiting for the Navy and Marines and to be their public goodwill ambassador.

That's a fraction of the Pentagon's $926 billion annual budget, but that's not the point, critics say. They argue that lots of smaller programs will have to be eliminated to meet required spending reductions.