HORSHAM
Because of a variety of other commitments, the Willow Grove Naval Air Station will not host a show in 2004, but the 2005 event may include the Blue Angels.
By PAUL RUPPEL
Bucks County Courier Times
There will be no air show at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base next year, but officials plan one in 2005. The 2005 show could include one of the military's premier demonstration teams, the Navy Blue Angels and their F/A-18 Hornets.
Willow Grove spokeswoman Sherri Jones said the decision was made during planning for this year's show. The base has a number of other obligations in 2004 that would make hosting an air show a burden, she said.
It will be the first year without an air show since 1999, when the "Sounds of Freedom Air Show" was grounded due to cost and quality-control issues.
Willow Grove historically hosted a show about every other year before this recent stretch, she said. After the crash of an F-14 Tomcat at the 2000 air show, the base came back in 2001 with a show featuring the Blue Angels.
Officials originally intended to skip 2002 - the year Capt. Layne Smith took over as commanding officer - to help plan for the base's 60th anniversary. The Air Force Thunderbirds, however, expressed a strong interest in performing during the planned off year, and the base obliged.
"We proved everything we wanted to do," Smith said of that show, which took place around the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"There was increased security and it cost us a lot of money, but we wanted to show we weren't going to be intimidated by a bunch of terrorists. We wanted to get folks on the base," Smith said.
Jet teams decide each December what air shows they will participate in. For example, the 2001 show at Willow Grove was moved from summer to fall to accommodate an open weekend on the Blue Angels' calendar.
Smith wasn't sure when in 2005 the air show might be held. While prior summertime shows were very hot, they usually managed to avoid the rainy, overcast conditions encountered on Saturday of this year's show, he said.
"We've got a pretty good commitment from the Blue Angels to be back again in 2005," Smith said. "It's going to be a huge success, a great time. These acts love coming to 'The Grove.' "
There are other things happening on the base next year, he said.
The National Association of Naval Aviation is planning to hold a Battle of Midway military symposium at Willow Grove on June 4 to commemorate the anniversary of the World War II battle that occurred in June 1942. It is widely considered a turning point in the Pacific Theater. Aviation commanders, historians and local veterans will be invited to participate.
"We haven't done something like this before," Smith said. "It just gives us a chance to get some of our aviators and personnel together with them."
Willow Grove will host a change of command in July. And the base is undergoing a host of changes as it joins the Norfolk-based Mid-Atlantic Region command.
Smith added that the base also is trying to revive some smaller events that bring the public on site, such as 10K runs.
Paul Ruppel can be reached at pruppel@phillyBurbs.com.
Bucks County Courier Times November 24, 2003