Budget Reflects Other Priorities For The Air Base

There will be no "Defenders of Freedom" Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE in 2015. Instead, the base will be repairing its taxiways this summer.

The Omaha World-Herald reports the in late September, the 55th Air Wing learned that a $7 million taxiway repair project had been approved by Congress in an area that is one of the best for static displays and spectators. That work is scheduled to get underway in April and last about six months. The show had been scheduled for August 29-30.

Maj. James Lee, the 55th Wing’s air show director, told the paper that "the ramp is in disrepair" and the primary mission of the base had to take priority over the air show, which has been cancelled two out of the last three years. The show was scotched in 2013 when sequestration forced the grounding of the Thunderbirds, the headline act for the show.

Lee said that a smaller version of the show was considered, but that it was not really feasible to scale back the event.

While Nebraskans will be without an air show in 2015, the paper reports that there are already two events planned for next year in the state; the "Guardians of Freedom" show in Lincoln that will feature the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as a return of the "Defenders of Freedom" show at Offutt.

FMI: www.offutt.af.mil, www.lincolnairshow.com