danger of being grounded.

Organisers fear they may not have enough military aircraft on display.

US navy chiefs want 33 percent of the aircraft to be civilian and 67 percent military.

But Bermuda's base has only three military craft -- a UP3 Orion plane and two helicopters.

And it is feared not enough could be attracted from abroad to make up the numbers.

"It will be a problem. I don't know for sure yet if the show is going ahead,'' said Navy Public Affairs Officer, Ens. Marie McGahan yesterday.

She added: "It will, of course, be a big disappointment. Everything is up in the air at the moment.'' The base is now urgently seeking a ruling on whether the weekend American Bermudian Friendship Festival can get off the ground.

If not, it will be a massive blow to thousands of people who annually make the trek to the air station.

Last year visitors were thrilled by dare-devil demonstrations of flying, and parachuting.

Star performers included Captain Midnight and his amazing Silver Star T33, the family trio of the Pietsch Air Shows and the Canadian Forces Parachute Team, and the Skyhawks, who pulled off a number of smokey and dazzling descents.

Among other attractions were The Miller Lite Sky Diving Team, the world's smallest jet, Freedom; and the mighty B-52 bomber.

This year a similar September 11-12 programme was planned, including Team America, masters of formation flying and manoeuvres.

The shows, which have been going for several years, are run by volunteers, and pull in massive sponsorship here and the US.

Local sponsors have included Gosling Brothers, Sonesta Beach Hotel, Grotto Bay, and different airlines, such as Delta.

Ens. McGahan said the shows were seen as a chance to show off military aircraft. The cost of laying them on differed from year to year.

"They are a tool for publicity,'' she explained.

Ens. McGahan said Bermuda was at a disadvantage compared to other naval bases, because it was not seen a great stage for publicity.

It would be more worthwhile, for instance, for military aircraft to go to San Diego than Bermuda.

"There are not as many benefits for them to come here. They would get better publicity in San Diego.'' Ens. McGahan added: "We will probably have to cancel or try to get more military aircraft here.''