Blue Angels
The Blue Angels might need private funding to help it survive if military cuts are as deep as expected. (AP Photo/File)

Blue Angels, Boeing among those who could feel effects from military budget cuts

BY Alyssa Kleven  on February 6, 2013 @ 12:27 pm (Updated: 12:41 pm - 2/6/13 )

If the military budget is cut, we've already learned the Blue Angels could take a hit.

Will they be gone forever? "They'll survive but they'll be scaled back considerably," CBS military analyst Mike Lyons told Seattle's Morning News.

According to Lyons, much like military academies, which need private funding to survive, the public may have to help pay to see the Blue Angels too.

Lyons said that it won't be one branch of the military that gets hit either, all are at risk of losing funding. The Army may have to scale back some of their combat training deployment, while the Air Force would see a cut in flights.

A tanker contract with the Air Force won by Boeing has an unclear fate. Lyons said it's an instance of "the government using money that's directly impacting the military." But, he added, "everything is on the table."

Boeing had said winning the tanker contract in 2011 was responsible for 11,000 direct and indirect jobs in Washington state.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (16)


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  • CH wrote...
    see no problem
    February 6, 2013 12:22 pm
    here! Cut LE and FireMEN_ too!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    hopefully
    February 6, 2013 3:58 pm
    they will also cut funds for widows and orphans and cripple folk as well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Budget
    February 6, 2013 1:37 pm
    1. Blue Angels, who cares. Nothing but a PR assignment. Put the pilots somewhere as trainers or give them seats in a combat aircraft. 2. Boeing...they can thank the author of the squester...good ol' Senator Patty Murray...who apparently didn't chat with Senator Maria Cantwell when she got that red herring tanker deal for Boeing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JadeFrog wrote...
    Unfortunate
    February 6, 2013 1:48 pm
    It is unfortunate that things we like will get cut, but in situations where the government is quite literally broke and borrowing 46 cents of every dollar it spends, we need to start making the tough choices between the things we need, and the things we want. While I love the Blue Angels and what they bring to us each year, they're not a need.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Just as long as we can keep our Obama phones
    February 6, 2013 2:03 pm
    and the like. No need for the stuff that taxpayers enjoy...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Good. Let Boeing and the Blue Angels compete in the so-called "free market." Wouldn't you right-wingers agree?
    February 6, 2013 2:20 pm
    Boeing is one of the country's biggest recipients of corporate welfare. if you don't beleive me, google Boeing Export Import Bank.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Congress and Biden get a pay raise
    February 6, 2013 2:40 pm
    While DOD get cuts to pay for more free stuff. what is wrong with this picture?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Say it with me then, Bill:
    February 6, 2013 2:48 pm
    "I, Bill Law, support welfare for giant corporations, and I do not believe in the "free market."

    Common, you can say it, I know you can. And if you can't, then fine. Shuttup already about government spending and waste.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    One more thing, Bill
    February 6, 2013 3:17 pm
    You always like to say to people who disagree with you here that they have "no idea" what it is to be a conservative.

    If you support corporate welfare, then apparently, neither do you.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    too bad...
    February 6, 2013 3:52 pm
    but I'm more worried that the military won't be able to handle the rapidly growing Chinese threat if actual combat units are cut. I'll give up the angels to save actual combat power, but we'll probably cut both, and regret it later in the coming war with China.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 509 wrote...
    When IKE talked about the military-industrial-Congress comples there was one...
    February 6, 2013 4:42 pm
    today there is just Congress and Boeing. Boeing IS the military-industrial complex. In today's environment Boeing is another branch of government. So the Puget Sound should be fine...since they have veto over the other three branches of government.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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