“Maj. Waters, last season’s Viper Demo pilot has resumed command, so the team is in great hands...”
So how did MAJ Waters get removed from command in the first place? Obviously he wasn’t relieved for cause or he wouldn’t have been put back in.
Was he told by his highers to step aside & make room for the first female Viper Demo commander in return for a positive OER, or warned that consequences would follow if he didn’t?
This altogether smells; somebody up the chain will have egg on his/her face over this. Is the female pilot still in Viper Demo flight & do the other pilots feel safe flying in close proximity with her?
For clarity, this is the solo F16 demo that goes to airshows to fly a demo in the F16. Maj Rains flew the demo last year and rotated out as scheduled. This isn’t the Thunderbird team. Maj Rains has been asked to return to this assignment to minimize any delays in the show schedule.
There is no doubt that the female pilot had the piloting skills for this job as she was already practiced up and certified for the show. Whatever happened must have been on the personal side. No doubt the decision to fire her went all the way to the Secretary of the AF for review. Must be pretty bad.
It is customary for the leader of the Thunderbirds, the Blue Angels, and apparently the Vipers as well, to have a 2 season tour of duty then return to a regular squadron.
I would assume that Maj. Waters' normal tour of duty was up.