Blue Angels on safety standdown after problem.

[Robert]

http://www.wvec.com/news/military/Blue- ... 97294.html

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- The Blue Angels flight team announced a safety standown Monday and canceled a midweek show at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., days before the academy graduation.

The famed Navy flight squadron said is scrubbing Tuesday's practice at Annapolis and Wednesday's show because of a problem during one of the team's signature, high-speed, acrobatic maneuvers at a Lynchburg airshow on Sunday.

The Blue Angels have performed at the Annapolis air show most years since 1954 and four of the team's six pilots, including the Blue Angles' commander, are academy graduates, said spokeswoman Lt. Katie Kelly, also an academy graduate.

Whether the six blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets will do their traditional flyover at the academy graduation on Friday is undecided, Kelly said.

The team is reviewing why four of the six jets fell below the 8,000-foot flight ceiling on Sunday during a barrel-roll break from a diamond formation, she said. The team did not complete the maneuver and all six jets landed safely about three-fourths of the way through the scheduled performance without damage to the jets or injury to the pilots.

Blue Angels pilot Kevin Davis died in a 2007 crash at a South Carolina air show when he lost control of his jet.

Kelly said the team is disappointed about missing the Annapolis show.

"We know this is something the midshipmen and the citizens of Annapolis look forward to and it is difficult when we are not able to perform," she said.

[Rockville]

Blue Angels' commanding officer relieved of duty over safety concern

PENSACOLA, Florida -- Chief of Naval Air Training, Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore, today relieved Cmdr. Dave Koss, commanding officer of the "Blue Angels" Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron, of his duties following a lower-than-normal maneuver during the team’s last performance at the Lynchburg Regional Air Show May 22.
Sizemore's action came at Koss' request, according to an announcement from Sizemore's office.
Navy Lt. Kaitie Kelly, the Blue Angels spokeswoman, said the altitude problem involved 4 of the 6 F/A-18 Hornets flying a diamond formation at Sunday's air show in Lynchburg, Va. All 6 aircraft landed safely about three-fourths of the way through the scheduled performance without damage to the jets or injury to the pilots.
“With deep personal regret I shared with my command today that I will be voluntarily leaving the greatest flight demonstration team. I performed a maneuver that had an unacceptably low minimum altitude,” Koss said today in a statement.
“This maneuver, combined with other instances of not meeting the airborne standard that makes the Blue Angels the exceptional organization that it is, led to my decision to step down.
"I have the utmost respect for the Sailors and Marines of the Blue Angels organization and all that they embody. The reason this team is so successful, brings thrills to millions of fans across America, and represents the U.S. Navy so superbly is because of the absolute commitment to safety and perfection by every member of the team.
"I am honored to have been a part of this organization and I look forward to watching its success in the future.”
Koss will be replaced by Capt. Greg McWherter, who was the previous Blue Angels’ Commanding Officer, for the duration of the season.
The announcement of Koss' departure comes after the Blue Angels canceled a practice and show this week at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md
Sizemore said relieving Koss of his duties requires the cancellation of the Blue Angels’ scheduled performances at the Rockford Airfest June 4-5 and the Evansville Freedom Festival Air Show June 11-12. The Blue Angels will remain in Pensacola for additional training and air show demonstration practice, he said.
Any potential changes to the team's future schedule are to be announced at a later date.\

Published: Friday, May 27, 2011, 1:06 PM
Updated: Friday, May 27, 2011, 1:25 PM
© 2011 al.com.

[michel N]

This makes me wonder at what altitude the manoeuvre was performed...

[Flyboy]

This makes me wonder at what altitude the manoeuvre was performed...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlUWQlXQB20[/youtube] start at time 1:40. The break seems spontaneous...

[tbower40]

I have seen the Blues fly many many times and never have I seen them break out from the Diamond roll that low to the ground. WOW!! That could have been a disaster in the making.

[frank kramer]

8,000 feet minimum height? Shouldn't that be 800 feet? Anyways, the bottom of that manoeuver was closer to 80 feet... No wonder such drastic measures were taken...

[Aviaphotos]

Wow, that was close!