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(Reuters) - The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels elite aviation team famed for its crowd-pleasing daredevil stunts at public air shows, returns to the skies on Saturday after being grounded by budget cuts for much of 2013, Navy officials said.
The squadron's distinctive blue-and-gold fighter jets will perform precision aerobatics, rolling and diving through the air at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California, their contrails painting the skies red, white and blue.
Between 30,000 and 50,000 people are expected to attend, said Amber Lynn Daniel, a Blue Angels spokeswoman.
"What it shows is that our leadership has sent a loud and clear message that the Blue Angels are both a valuable asset for recruiting and we're also valuable in showcasing the pride and professionalism of American sailors and Marines," she said.
The Navy canceled the remaining Blue Angel performances for 2013 last April, citing "budget realities" brought about by broader federal government cutbacks.
The program costs about $40 million annually, Navy officials said last year. During the downtime, the Blue Angels continued to train at their base in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy confirmed last fall that the Blue Angels would return to public performances this spring.
Entire Article http://news.msn.com/us/us-navy-blue-angels-flying-high-again-after-2013-grounding
The squadron's distinctive blue-and-gold fighter jets will perform precision aerobatics, rolling and diving through the air at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California, their contrails painting the skies red, white and blue.
Between 30,000 and 50,000 people are expected to attend, said Amber Lynn Daniel, a Blue Angels spokeswoman.
"What it shows is that our leadership has sent a loud and clear message that the Blue Angels are both a valuable asset for recruiting and we're also valuable in showcasing the pride and professionalism of American sailors and Marines," she said.
The Navy canceled the remaining Blue Angel performances for 2013 last April, citing "budget realities" brought about by broader federal government cutbacks.
The program costs about $40 million annually, Navy officials said last year. During the downtime, the Blue Angels continued to train at their base in Pensacola, Florida.
The Navy confirmed last fall that the Blue Angels would return to public performances this spring.
Entire Article http://news.msn.com/us/us-navy-blue-angels-flying-high-again-after-2013-grounding
