THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510050391
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DALE EISMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
The Blue Angels say they're ready to soar again.
The Navy's precision flying team will perform this weekend in the San Francisco Bay area and expects to complete its season schedule of shows, a Navy spokesman said Wednesday night.
Cmdr. Donnie Cochran, the team's commanding officer and flight leader, decided earlier Wednesday to resume the schedule after reviewing his and the group's performance in recent training exercises, the spokesman said.
Cochran, 41, canceled a show at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach on Sept. 24, citing concerns about his proficiency. The team returned to its home base in Pensacola, Fla., for more training but last week canceled a second show, in Alexandria, La., because of continuing concerns about safety.
With Hurricane Opal in the Gulf of Mexico, the team left Pensacola on Tuesday for the El Centro Naval Air Facility in Southern California. They conducted additional practice sessions there on Wednesday, and Cochran now is comfortable with their flying, the spokesman said.
The Blue Angels are the most elite group of pilots in the Navy and the Marine Corps. Each of the 16 team members must have at least 1,500 flight hours and high recommendations.
Cochran's decision to cancel shows was thought to be unprecedented. The flight leader acted after he began having trouble hitting some of his marks while coming out of the group's formations.
The team uses reference points on the ground to position itself. So if the leader misses a mark, the entire team is thrown off. Because the team's maneuvers require split-second timing and tight formations, mistakes can be dangerous.
The Blue Angels' 1995 season is scheduled to end Nov. 11 in Pensacola. by CNB