Blue Angels CO

[VNAF ONE]

The CO of the US Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team, Cdr. Dave Koss, has been relieved of his duty due to an extremely dangerous and low maneuver that took place in Lynchburg, VA this past weekend. The team has since cancelled all activities at the US Naval Academy graduation and air show in Millville, New Jersey. The team will continue the season with a previous CO Capt. Greg McWherter at the Rockford Air Fest and Evansville Freedom Festival ( ). This is a difficult time for the Blues but they will be continuing training at NAS Pensacola until they are able to perform again.

Facebook Press Release:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/us-navy-b ... 5437862802

Marine Corps Times:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/20 ... n-052711w/




EDIT:
I found a video that clearly shows what went wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlUWQlXQB20

[Scarecrow]

Rockford and Evansville have been cancelled for appearance by the Blue Angels. For those in the area, there is still an air show and we invite you to come on out to see the rest of the show.

[TheGeno]

Admin Edit: Please refrain from any negative comments regarding this issue.

[Taskforce 58]

I wonder if there was a "knock it off" call on the radio.

[Gunny]

Seeing as they went below the hard deck most likely TF.
And looking at the replay training kicked in get angels.

[Flake]

Whoa. That was some scary footage!

So disheartening to see that mistake happen twice! I hope that he gets back to flying soon and I hope that Mcwherter* can help get things back up to speed asnap.

[Scarecrow]

The Knock it off Call did happen.

This maneuver was flown incorrectly twice. With the second day being to low to the ground.

Koss felt that for the safety of his team and the core values of the Navy to voluntarily stand down. McW is an awesome boss, however he has not flown a Hornet, or less anything at all for the last six months. Usually after command of the Blues you get a desk job somewhere.

[CharleyHotel]

That is way, way too low! I've been at many a Blue Angels performance throughout the years and have never seen anything as low/reckless as that. I'm just glad no one got hurt and that their CO is manning up to protect his team and the reputation of the display.

[Gunny]

Something like this does not just happen and happen twice with this caliber of pilots.I am thinking there was a lack of practice involved here.
But to there ever lasting credit a disaster was averted.
I still hold this team in vary high regard and know that there will not be a repeat of this mishap.

[Talon]

That is way, way too low! I've been at many a Blue Angels performance throughout the years and have never seen anything as low/reckless as that. I'm just glad no one got hurt and that their CO is manning up to protect his team and the reputation of the display.

It was low, but not reckless. Understand that these guys are consummate professionals... if something like this happens, it's not because of some attitude issue, it's because what they're doing is just difficult beyond belief. The tolerances they fly to aren't really something their audiences can appreciate, and much of what they do that is truly incredible are the things nobody sees from the crowd line. The things they're doing really are as difficult as they look. There's no smoke and mirrors.

This is not the first time a Blue Angel boss has stepped down for flying reasons. It probably won't be the last. These guys are applying 110% of their mental and physical ability to this job, and if someone isn't up to the task, that's just part of putting normal humans in a superhuman situation. What makes these guys who they are is what they do when they hit a situation like this.

[Airbourne]

Wow, i was looking forward to seeing them again

And 1 week before the rockford air fest!!!