COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Bracing for the sequester, Air Force leadership has canceled all aviation support to public events for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year, grounding the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team in order to save flying hours.

The Thunderbirds took to the skies annually as Air Force Academy graduates toss their caps during graduation rites. As of March 1, the Air Force is cancelling support to all air shows, tradeshows, orientation flights, heritage flights, F-22 Raptor demonstration flights, funeral and military graduation flyovers, the branch said in a public statement.

They are also cancelling the Thunderbirds' entire 2013 season starting April 1.

Thunderbirds and Heritage Flight crews will complete the certification procedures for safely flying those demonstrations,  in the case that the budget changes and scheduled events in 2013 are resumed.

The Air Force said this will reduce flying hours by as much as 18 percent -- approximately 203,000 hours -- and impacts will be felt across the service and directly affect operational and training missions.

Air Force leadership explained, since all aerial support to public and military events is flown at no additional cost to the taxpayer using allotted training hours, the Air Force had no choice but to cancel support to these events.