Navy: Blue Angels shows canceled due to sequester

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - The Navy has now announced the first impact sequestration will have on the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels have become a staple around the country for soaring through the skies, pulling off death defying stunts.

But the hundreds of thousands of folks that turn up their shows every year in April, may now have to make other plans.

The Navy intends to cut their shows in Tampa, Corpus Christi, Vidalia, Georgia and Beaufort, South Carolina.

Related: Locals seek to privately fund Blues

“The Blue Angels' team is a great bunch of professionals. They’ve been working very very hard and I know they were excited to bring the excitement of Naval Aviation to the people who would’ve seen these performances. As disappointed as the Blue Angels fans are, I’m sure the Blue Angels are equally disappointed,” said Cmdr. Kevin Stephens with the Naval Air Forces.

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

That limit on training could affect future air shows.

“Obviously, the amount of flight training affects how quickly they can recover and go perform again should funding be restored,” Cmdr. Stephens said.

Executive Director Buck Lee is fighting to keep the Pensacola Beach Air show – including considering paying for the event themselves.

“I wrote a letter to the Navy in Corpus Christi, Texas. If they're going to do training a couple days a week, they should come do it over Pensacola Beach on July 14 and 15,” said Lee.

Lee said despite the growing concerns, they’re going ahead full steam and are preparing as if the show was still set in stone.

“We still have our civilian acts signed and we’re still having vendors out here so we’re going forward until someone tells us to knock it off,” Lee said.

Officials said it's still possible for funding to be restored by a Congressional action but they can't speculate on the likelihood of that occurring.