Canceled Air Show Revived for Spring

Less than a month after canceling Point Mugu’s air show for 1997, officials at the Navy base have rescheduled the event for next spring but are still working to pin down a specific date and land a top aerobatic act.

Citing budget cuts and the inability to attract a big-name flying team, base officials announced this month that the 35th annual Point Mugu Air Show would not take place as scheduled Oct. 11 and 12.

Capt. Stephen Beal, commander of the air weapons station, said Monday that plans are being made to host the 1998 Point Mugu Air Show in April or May.

In addition, Beal said negotiations are underway to sign the Navy’s elite Blue Angels flying team to headline the spring show.

“We probably won’t have a definite date until January,” base spokeswoman Phyllis Thrower said.

“But it looks good, and we’re still looking forward to a super air show.”

Navy officials cited a shrinking federal military budget as the primary reason for grounding the 1997 air show.

Last year’s event drew more than 170,000 visitors and featured the famed Blue Angels as well as stealth fighters and F-14 Tomcats.

Still, as Point Mugu celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, overcast skies grounded the headliner--the Blue Angels--for much of the weekend.

By moving the air show from the fall to the spring, base officials said they hope to have better weather for the 1998 show.