Blue Angels Commander Steps Down Over Low-Level Move

Chief of Naval Air Training, Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore, relieved Cmdr. Dave Koss, Commanding Officer of the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron Friday, May 27, at his request following a lower-than-normal maneuver during the team�s last performance at the Lynchburg Regional Air Show May 22.

"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,� said Dave Koss, the Cmdr.

Dave Koss, Commanding Officer of the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron. The team cancelled performances surrounding Friday's graduation at the U.S. Naval Academy and a planned Memorial Day weekend performances at an air show in Millville, N.J. This change 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 team announced on May 26 that it was canceling appearances at the Naval Academy graduation May 27 and at an air show May 28-29 in Millville, N.J.

The Blue Angels will remain in Pensacola for additional training and air show demonstration practice.