Two members pulled from Blue Angels

[unhappycamper]

Two members of the Blue Angels have been removed due to an alleged inappropriate relationship. The team will now fly with five jets instead of six.


Two members pulled from Blue Angels
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 30, 2008 18:26:47 EDT

NORFOLK, Va. — Two members of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, have been “removed” from the team due to an alleged inappropriate relationship, a Navy official said Thursday.

The two members of the squadron — one of them an aviator — were pulled from the unit by commanding officer and flight leader Capt. Kevin Mannix on Sunday, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity since he was discussing a personnel matter. The names of the people involved were not released.

“The team members are alleged to have had an inappropriate relationship,” the official said, who also would not say what genders were involved. “There’s a team of more than a hundred people, male and female.”

The official said the two have been removed “pending further review” of the matter by Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini, chief of naval air training.

For the remainder of the season, the team will be flying five jets during its shows rather than the standard six, the official added.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_blueangels_103008/%2e

[SheilaT]

1. There are no backup pilots available?

With a team of more than one hundred people pulling two of them requires flying one less jet? Doesn't sound like good personnel planning to me. Shrugs.

[Angleae]

2. Most of the team is support personnel

Such as mechanics to keep the planes flying. Only 6 pilots in the unit.

[SheilaT]

3. That seems sort of dumb to me.

I would have thought there would be a back-up pilot or two. Even though these would be young people in the prime of life and presumably quite healthy, even they will get a cold or maybe even appendicitis on occasion.

And I've seen the Blue Angels perform in person once or twice, and they are very impressive.