MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The skies over Witham Field were alive with aerobatic maneuvers and vintage aircraft this weekend as the 36th Annual Stuart Air Show welcomed thousands of aviation enthusiasts. But this year’s event looked a little different: two major military fighter jets were missing from the lineup due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has rippled across industries—grounding flights, delaying travel, and even clipping the wings of this beloved air show. The Department of Defense confirmed that the event is considered a community outreach activity, which means it isn’t funded during a shutdown.
Despite the absence of the F-35A II Lightning and F/A-18 Super Hornet, attendees said the show must go on…