MCAS Miramar Airshow Cancelled

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AcroGimp

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AcroGimp
Just a note for anyone not in the San Diego area who might have been planning to attend the retooled civilian-centric MCAS Miramar airshow - it was cancelled this morning (supposed to start tomorrow).

Even though it sees attendance up to 500,00 over the typical 3 day event, generates millions in local revenue, supports many local businesses and charities, and had retooled to not include any operational military participation after sequestration, the need to make the public feel the 'pain' of a the government #shutnado took priority.

Bummed

'Gimp
 
This government "shutdown" is a farce.

They're only shutting down the things that the public enjoys, just to blackmail the public into giving them more money.
 
Capt.Crash'n'Burn said:
This government "shutdown" is a farce.

They're only shutting down the things that the public enjoys, just to blackmail the public into giving them more money.
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I fear you are correct.
 
I recall a local municipal election where a small tax hike was on the ballot. They claimed without the hike they would have to lay off police and firefighters. Didn't mention perhaps selling one of their fleet (6) of police helicopters.
 
I could see that coming. With Oceana being cancelled and several others, Miramar was next. I'd be willing to bet Pensacola will be cxl as well.

Good news is we've got a good show in PUJ this weekend. Canadian F-18, P-51, F4U, and the Aeroshell team. I haven't been to a show in almost 2 years. Finally gonna get my air show fix on.
 
Capt.Crash'n'Burn said:
This government "shutdown" is a farce.

They're only shutting down the things that the public enjoys, just to blackmail the public into giving them more money.
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No, they are shutting down EVERYTHING that they can't argue tooth and nail is essential to safety.

NASA is almost completely shut down. Except for the rent-a-cops. There are a handful of very limited exceptions for equipment that will break without being hand-fed, such as the cryogenic detectors installed on our aircraft. The folks who do that work are working for free.

I think you'll have a hard time arguing that an airshow is safety critical.
 
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MAKG1 said:
No, they are shutting down EVERYTHING that they can't argue tooth and nail is essential to safety.

NASA is almost completely shut down. Except for the rent-a-cops.

I think you'll have a hard time arguing that an airshow is safety critical.
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We've done this to ourselves. Over the years we have civilianized the military. Taken away almost every job they possible could from the active duty force and given it to government employees. The DoD is currently 60% civilian and only 40% military personnel.

And that is why they can't put on an airshow at a military facility when the govt shuts down.
 
Capt.Crash'n'Burn said:
This government "shutdown" is a farce.

They're only shutting down the things that the public enjoys, just to blackmail the public into giving them more money.
Click to expand...

I have rarely read something more accurate, and cogent in all my years on the internet. :yes:
 
MAKG, the issue with Miramar is that it is planned years in advance, and was already fully funded through public/private partnership (monies already budgeted and spent/contracted). The Marines are already there and are already getting paid, the stands and tents are already up, the vendors are already setup, and the event is a major fundraiser for several Military and civilian charities, as well as generating literally millions for the local economy.

They tried to cancel the Army/Navy football game too but tickets are already sold so they agreed to let it proceed - Miramar should be the same.

This is like grounding the Blues and Thunderbirds all over again. Barack and Moochelle's Excellent African Adventure spent as much in 8 days as both teams consume in a year, combined (~$100M).

It is mean-spirited, childish, petty and cherry-picked because it is a big deal (half-a-million spectators) that will be very public.

'Gimp
 
Entertaining you is a big deal compared to, say, VA doctors or intelligence analysts?

Selfish. Extremely so.

People are suffering as a result of this. Congress has withheld people's livelihoods. Several vital government functions are hamstrung due to lack of staffing. And you're ****ed off that you don't get entertained. Forgive me if I'm not very sympathetic as I'm a bit more concerned about keeping food on the table.
 
This isn't about govt shutdown. Military air shows have been canceling left and right all year because of the sequestration. That's why you have all these civilian aerobatic performers supporting bringing back the military teams. They're the ones who bring in the public and allow the organizers to make just enough money through advertising and vendors to pay the civilian performers. No military teams, no money.
 
MAKG1 said:
Entertaining you is a big deal compared to, say, VA doctors or intelligence analysts?

Selfish. Extremely so.

People are suffering as a result of this. Congress has withheld people's livelihoods. Several vital government functions are hamstrung due to lack of staffing. And you're ****ed off that you don't get entertained. Forgive me if I'm not very sympathetic as I'm a bit more concerned about keeping food on the table.
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Just two points to make. I'd like to know if any VA docs or intel analysts have been furloughed. Not that I would know, but that seems like an 'essential'.

Next, in this case the society is getting good return on investment in the 'entertainment' deal. Businesses make money, no fed assets are in the air, no fed gas is being burned, maybe they provide ATC services like they would the other 364 days a year. Local LEOs, local infrastructure staffing etc. This is in keeping with the 'promote the gen welfare' clause.
 
Capt.Crash'n'Burn said:
This government "shutdown" is a farce.

They're only shutting down the things that the public enjoys, just to blackmail the public into giving them more money.
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As I am employed as a civilian contractor to provide technical/Managment services and support to the military. My contract is unfunded. I too am out of work. :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

Time for me to find a line of work farther away from the govt.
 
That's too bad. I was stationed at MCAS Miramar for the first airshow. We set up some of our equipment for static displays.
 
Yeah, bummer. I worked (stood by our static display jet and drank beer all day if you call that work) the show a couple years in a row when I was stationed there. Good times. Aside from it normally being during the hottest time of the year, it was worth the drive through traffic. The Friday aftershow party at the oclub was a good time too......got to meet "Jester" of Top Gun movie fame one year there actually......about as out of control as the Miramar Oclub can ever get anyway. I also had some good lols watching an AF A-10 turned UAV pilot pick up some MILF with a baby in a stroller, and a tall boy in the stroller drink holder :)
 
MCAS????? What's that? Oh yeah, I forgot ... the old Blue and Gold Master Jet Air Station is no longer Blue and Gold

(ok, I didn't forget - I'm reminded every time I drive past, at least once a year still)

homebased at NAS Miramar from '78-84
 
gkainz said:
MCAS????? What's that? Oh yeah, I forgot ... the old Blue and Gold Master Jet Air Station is no longer Blue and Gold

(ok, I didn't forget - I'm reminded every time I drive past, at least once a year still)

homebased at NAS Miramar from '78-84
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Ha, I wish I could've pulled off getting stationed at Miramar that long. I only managed to get 2 yrs ('98-00). Best duty station anywhere.
 
Velocity173 said:
Ha, I wish I could've pulled off getting stationed at Miramar that long. I only managed to get 2 yrs ('98-00). Best duty station anywhere.
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I wasn't "there" that much, but my mail did go there. :) VAW-110 (shore duty) in 78, sea duty with VAW-112 on a MED (rerouted to IO) cruise in '79-80, WESTPAC in 80-81 and another WESTPAC in 82. VAW-88 (reserves) in 83-84.
 
I grew up about 6 miles south of Miramar. It was a great place to grow up, and always respected the Navy guys that operated from there. Every year went to the open house, as a kid I was in youth hockey and my coach was a commander out there. He hosted a team dinner at the O club and it was good times.

Shame it's fallen victim to politics.
 
docmirror said:
Just two points to make. I'd like to know if any VA docs or intel analysts have been furloughed. Not that I would know, but that seems like an 'essential'.
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I have no direct connections to intelligence analysts (at least that I know of), but yes, VA physicians have been furloughed. I suspect the emergency departments may still be there, but if you want a routine physical, you may be SOL. Rumor is that many of the hospitals are not accepting new patients. It's a good thing the local one is so close to Stanford....

Keep in mind that those few people who are still working -- and there aren't many -- are not getting paid.

The USGS Western Region office is also a ghost town. There are a whole six essential personnel working there. WR is in charge of multiple natural hazards offices such as earthquakes and volcanoes.

This is a VERY widespread shutdown. Congress has withheld the authority to use Federal facilities in addition to getting paid.

It has been reported that 800,000 civil servants have been furloughed. Several times that many contractors have been shown the door, but I doubt you're going to see that. Contractors are the government's dirty little secret about "privatization."
 
MAKG1 said:
I have no direct connections to intelligence analysts (at least that I know of), but yes, VA physicians have been furloughed. I suspect the emergency departments may still be there, but if you want a routine physical, you may be SOL. Rumor is that many of the hospitals are not accepting new patients. It's a good thing the local one is so close to Stanford....

Keep in mind that those few people who are still working -- and there aren't many -- are not getting paid.

The USGS Western Region office is also a ghost town. There are a whole six essential personnel working there. WR is in charge of multiple natural hazards offices such as earthquakes and volcanoes.

This is a VERY widespread shutdown. Congress has withheld the authority to use Federal facilities in addition to getting paid.

It has been reported that 800,000 civil servants have been furloughed. Several times that many contractors have been shown the door, but I doubt you're going to see that. Contractors are the government's dirty little secret about "privatization."
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Well, I'm a vet, I'm a citizen, I enjoy parks just as much as the next guy, and I'm a user of the USGS products on occasion. I'm still failing to see this as a downside, although I'm going to be impacted some.

There just isn't anything outside of the armed forces, ATC, and the roads that the fedguv does for me - being that I'm an independent kind of guy.

While we're on the subject, Maybe it's the way I think of things, but shouldn't the entire concept of govt be that it provides essential, and ONLY essential services to the public? Frex; there are zero educators in the Fed dept of ED. Does that strike anyone besides me as being non-essential, or even counter-productive to fund with the people's money when they don't educate anyone?

Is my fundamental philosophy of private enterprise, and the utility model of the fedguv flawed? Why would the govt have - well,, any dept that is not essential to the operation of the country?
 
MAKG1 said:
...Keep in mind that those few people who are still working -- and there aren't many -- are not getting paid...
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If this goes the way of previous shutdowns, they will be paid retroactively for their time spent at home when the impasse is resolved. Disruptive, to be sure, but they'll be made whole, with the exception of possible dings on credit histories for late mortgage payments by those with no savings.

The retroactive pay is enough of a certainty that, in the shutdowns of 1995-96, banks were offering short-term loans based on government IOUs where I lived in Florida.

On the other hand, the private-sector employees who are losing their jobs, full-time status or employer health coverage due to the ACA have no expectation of being made whole.
 
Congress, as in the House, has tried several times to fund the various elements of Government that many do rely on, including NIH, VA, retirement pay for Vets, National Parks Service, etc.

It is the Senate, and the White House that are simply not willing to hear any funding bill that does not also fully fund a health overhaul that 6 in 10 Americans don't want/support, and which after thousands of politially motivated exemptions, delays and other shenanigans, is not the the law as passed.

Let's keep the focus where it belongs, the people who are actively deciding not to fund cancer treatment for kids, to close parks, etc.

'Gimp
 
Velocity173 said:
H&HS. I was in MACS-4 (Futenma) prior to Miramar.
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I was HQ Bn, 3rd FSSG on Kinser from 97-98. Seems like we've been over the same ground. I hated Futenma, we always had to do a 5 mile hump before hitting the gas chamber.
 
JB1842 said:
I was HQ Bn, 3rd FSSG on Kinser from 97-98. Seems like we've been over the same ground. I hated Futenma, we always had to do a 5 mile hump before hitting the gas chamber.
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Hey, I was on that damn rock too. Let's see, I guess it would be 86-88 for me. I'm guessing it didn't get any better with age. I was at both Kinser and Futenma. What festering shyteholes those were. I could see my car rusting just sitting in the parking lot.
 
docmirror said:
Hey, I was on that damn rock too. Let's see, I guess it would be 86-88 for me. I'm guessing it didn't get any better with age. I was at both Kinser and Futenma. What festering shyteholes those were. I could see my car rusting just sitting in the parking lot.
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Am I assuming correctly the same rusting shipwrecks were still off the coast of Kinser when you were there?
 
Velocity173 said:
Ha, I wish I could've pulled off getting stationed at Miramar that long. I only managed to get 2 yrs ('98-00). Best duty station anywhere.
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Me too. Just under 2 years for the wifey and I. Lived in Carlsbad, commuted every day. Best duty station in the world, even if it was a Marine command. I spent many a family trip there outside base ops watching Tomcats come into the break as a kid back in the 80's/early 90's. Coolest thing ever for a little kid who liked airplanes. Flash forward 20 years, and launching on my first Hornet solo out of there was potentially the most surreal experience/full circle moment of my life. There are a lot of places I will remember flying around, but Miramar is the one that will still perk my eyes up on my death bed. The NAOPA, the papa areas, Beaver, flying the SWOLF or the LAKEE.....those things about your youth you just can't ever forget when it involves flying an afterburning fighter jet for the first time(s). Read some book written by a RIO from the old days of TOPGUN, and no ****, reading was just like stepping back into a jet there and going flying. Same ranges, same departures/arrivals/same stupid shuttle descent from 16k 2 miles abeam the field for the overhead/Atlas. Love that place with all my heart but I know I will never go back. Biggest mistake of the Navy giving her up
 
Nice, my first ever (training command) CQ was on the Stennis in the socal op area. Fun times, went out at PB the afternoon we all qual'd and got back to the beach, and I don't remember much after that.

As a side note, I remember noticing one day walking back in from a flight that someone had obviously long ago fingered "VF-124 sucks!!!!" into the concrete of the (now) VMFAT-101 line. I thought that was funny.....lots of heritage there
 
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