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thedrifter
05-01-07, 08:03 AM
Blue Angels return to skies after fatal crash
By Melissa Nelson - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 30, 2007 20:05:23 EDT

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Navy’s Blue Angels roared above Pensacola Naval Air Station on Monday, twisting and falling in formation just nine days after a pilot’s death at a South Carolina air show.

The team’s first practice following the April 21 death of Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Davis concluded with a fly over by the Air Force Thunderbirds, who honored Davis by flying in missing man formation.

Only five of the traditional six F/A-18A Hornets flew Monday before fewer than 30 spectators. The Blue Angels have not announced if it will continue the season with five jets or if it will bring back a pilot from a previous team to finish out the season.

“It’s sad to see them out there today with only five planes,” said Philomena Madden, of Pensacola, who brought her son and grandson to the practice.

The pilots did not have a post-practice autograph session, but entertained the group with many of their standard maneuvers. The five Blue Angels jets performed for about 30 minutes, spiraling and soaring in a series of loops, crosses and inverted maneuvers while passing in front of the crowd in tight formations.

“Look, look, look,” David Madden told his 3-year-old son, Declan, as the lead jet made a slow pass in front of the viewing area with its nose up.

“Where are the tiny ones?” the child asked, covering his ears to block the noise while waiting for the remaining jets, which looked smaller to him because they were further away.

Phil Duryea volunteers at the National Museum of Naval Aviation on Pensacola Naval Air Station and escorts tourists to the Tuesday and Wednesday practice sessions. Duryea’s wife organizes the post-practice autograph sessions.

Duryea said Monday’s practice was solid, considering the circumstances.

“No. 4 didn’t have his smoke on in a couple of maneuvers,” he said. “Emotionally, I know they have been drained.”

Davis, 32, died when his No. 6 jet went down during the final minutes of a performance at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. He was in his first year flying in formation with the team.

The cause of the crash is being investigated, a process the Navy has said could take several months.

Davis was buried over the weekend at Barrancas National Cemetery on the base. A team spokesman said Davis’ family chose to have him buried on the base because he would have wanted to be near the team’s weekly practices.

Among the maneuvers the team practiced Monday was the delta formation, which the team was performing when Davis’ jet went down. In the formation, the planes come from behind the crowd to join together and form a triangle.

“As you can see, they are coming back. Considering everything, it seems like they are flying in pretty good formation,” said Bob Mays, a longtime fan who rarely misses a practice.

The Blue Angels have canceled a scheduled May 5 and 6 performance at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, but officials have said they hope to perform again May 12 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C.

The Thunderbirds were headed to Fort Lauderdale for Fleet Week.

Ellie