Pax River Cancels 2013 Air Expo

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the Internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.

It’s now official: Sequestration has claimed the Pax River Air Expo planned for later this year.

“The Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Expo has highlighted the partnership between our Navy team and the community, a partnership that has thrived here in Southern Maryland for the past 70 years,” the base said in an official release. “It is with regret that we must cancel the 2013 air show and celebration, scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 1, due to continuing budget challenges.”

The Navy has cancelled all remaining Blue Angels’ performances for the year because of fiscal cuts. The elite air demonstration team was scheduled to appear as the Pax River air show’s headliner. The air show was to be the main event highlighting the 70th anniversary of the founding of Pax River.

Back to Morning Coffee:

The Air Force is cancelling Thunderbirds appearances too, according to CNN.

The P-8A Poseidon program completes operational testing, and the Navy prepares to begin production of the aircraft this year, FlightGlobal reports.

Defense News previews the budget bills coming under consideration now that Congress is back in town. DoD Buzz quotes CNO Adm. Jonathan Greenert as saying that Congress’ crisis budgeting is causing a “fog bank” of uncertainty; and it notes that Obama’s FY2014 budget is likely dead on arrival.

DoD Buzz notes that the Navy’s Great Green Fleet initiative is conspicuously absent from this weeks Sea-Air-Space show.

Washington Technology suggests four ways for contractors to win under sequestration.