The pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, was killed.
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The jet, one of the six in Thunderbirds unit, crashed in a field outside Colorado Springs in the western US state. The pilot ejected safely.
Major Alex Turner had just performed a routine over crowds watching President Barack Obama’s address at the US Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs when he was forced to eject from the aircraft.
The United States Air Force is investigating the crash, and anticipates having additional information for the public next week. Both are under investigation.
Syracuse, N.Y. – Syracuse airport officials say they are consulting with the Navy’s Blue Angels regarding their planned performance at next weekend’s airshow in Syracuse in the wake of a crash that killed one of the team’s pilots in Tennessee Thursday.
The teams are pricey, too.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Katie Maricle says the Thunderbirds have an annual budget of $35 million.
“We seen a Blue Angel come down real low behind the trees on the other side of Sam Davis and then boom”. They are also tasked with engaging in community outreach, bolstering military recruitment and strengthening morale and esprit de corps in the services.
Captain Kuss is survived by his wife, Christina, and two young children, as well as his parents, Michael and Janet Kuss of Durango. “Those characteristics are what the Blue Angels will harness as we move forward”, said Cdr.
According to his official Blue Angels biography, Kuss joined the elite aerobatics team in 2014 and accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours. “We want to demonstrate to you so you can appreciate what we’re doing for you”.
Barry’s flight included numerous demonstration maneuvers that Blue Angels fans know from airshows, including flying upside down and barrel rolls.
Kuss along with Marine Corps Captain Corrie Mays visited Peachtree City back in November 2014, flying Blue Angel 7, a tw0-seater version of the F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet used by the demonstration squadron. He said his goal was to inspire all the kids now looking up at him. The jet that Kuss was piloting went down just after takeoff.
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Kuss, 32, did his basic flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and advanced training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, where he graduated.
