Luke Air Force Base cancels March 16-17 air show
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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Luke Air Force Base officials have canceled their March air show, citing the possibility of steep federal financial cuts.
Base officials said Friday that they don't want to waste taxpayer dollars with the threat of a deal not being reached on the massive, across-the-board spending cuts.
Part of the Glendale base's plan to reduce costs includes significantly reducing flying not directly related to pilot training.
The automatic cuts were put into place by a bipartisan budget compromise in August 2011 that averted a default on the federal debt.
The base's dual open house and air show was scheduled for March 16-17.
Luke has hosted open houses since the early 1950s and holds one about every two years.
More than 200,000 people attended the open house event in March 2011.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
