Blue Angels complete 10 week training

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - As the Blue Angels made their return to home base, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Monday, March 18, many wanted wondered how many 2013 air shows would have to be canceled due to federal military budget cuts.

“I wouldn’t (say) I'm worried," said pilot Brandon Cordill.  "We're definitely are always planning for the future; and as of right now, no one has told us to stop flying.  Right now we don't know what's in store with us, but we've obviously been thinking of the future and what kind of plans we can start to come up with should we be told that we can't do air shows."

Cordill said the Blues don’t necessarily need to be in the air to recruit and give back to the community.

“We also go out every morning. We do high school visits. We talk to the local community, and we talk to the next generation and try and inspire the general public," Cordill said.  "Doing that through the air shows is just a portion of how we do recruiting and our inspiration to the general public.”

Two April shows are off, and more could follow.  Cordill said it was the Navy's original intention to call all of them off that month.

But the Blues have only one thing on their minds right now, and it isn’t flying.

“That’s really our only concern is that those individuals get the funding they need to go and do their job safely," Cordill said.  "If that means we’re not able to fly or we have to sacrifice some shows for that, then so be it, because we’re all here to support our troops who are currently deployed overseas and getting ready to deploy.”

The status of the annual Pensacola Beach air show is on many minds in the area, but Cordill said the Blues will do everything in their power to make sure it happens.