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.