The problem that the public doesn't understand is that these pros make it look "too easy." Performing these maneuvers is death defying work.
All it takes is one small mistake.
The leader of the Blue Angels did not get fired:
(Excerpt FRom The American Spectator. See http://spectator.org/archives/2011/06/01/draft-koss-for-president# for the rest of the story)
“This is what is so admirable about [Commander Dave] Koss. Last week, he resigned from the Blue Angels, the job he spent his entire adult life working toward. In a statement he said he was guilty of “not meeting the airborne standard that makes the Blue Angels the exceptional organization that it is.”
During the May 22 demonstration at the Lynchburg, VA Regional Air Show, the Blue Angels performed a maneuver in which several aircraft flew below the “hard deck,” the minimally-acceptable altitude. The flight demonstration team immediately ended the remainder of its performance and returned to home base at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL to immediately commence a “safety stand-down.” No one was injured and no equipment was damaged.
As the squadron’s commanding officer, Koss did what he believed to be the proper and honorable thing. He offered his resignation. It was accepted.”
The fact that Cdr. Koss took responsibility and resigned FRom his dream job tells me that he is a man of honor, a man with the kind of character we sorely need in today’s world. I wish him much success in his future endeavors.