Airshow faces uncertain future

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. -- The War in Iraq could cancel a popular Memorial Day tradition.

Officials at Tinker Air Force Base said they may not have the money to host the Star Spangled Salute Airshow next year.

The free show is supported by taxpayer dollars and sponsors, but operational costs and a "war commitment" may stop next year's aerial salute to the military," said Lt. Col. Dave Parr, the airshow's director.

"As soon as this one is over, we'll hit the books and see how much money we have and we'll look at the schedule and see what we can do for next year and of course the following year as well," he said.

Parr said the show is not coming to dead end. He said it'll make a return in 2010; it's only next year's event that faces an uncertain future.

"This is not the last year," Parr said. "We've been doing the star spangled salute for many years  and it's an important part of the community and we like to show off tinker air force base as much as we can."