Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Up, Up, and Away with the Blue Angels!
Man always wanted to fly. Today, we can effortlessly board an airpland and jet from coast to coast or even around the world. One group of air enthusiasts soars above the rest in their aerial expertise. The Blue Angels, with their dazzling, stomach-churning maneuvers in their sleek blue and gold jets, bring new meaning to the phrase "up, up, and away!" It is hard not to feel some all-American pride when you watch their precise formations. The Blue Angels fly to inspire young people to enroll in military service. They act as goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Chester W. Nimitz, the Chief of Naval Operations, formed the Blue Angels after the end of World War II. The team did their first demonstration in June 1946 at their home base in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the years, the team has flown several different types of planes. Today, they fly F/A-18 Hornets. Millions of people have enjoyed their incredible air shows.
The Blue Angels flight demonstrations are remarkable. Their famous diamond formation is created by four planes flying close together. Their wing tips are only 18 inches apart! Other aerobatic maneuvers include vertical rolls and sneak passes where two planes pass so close together that they look as though they are about to have a head-on collision. Another famous formation is the six-plane delta formation. Their highest vertical roll goes up to 15,000 feet, and the jets fly up to 700 mph during a show!
