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<h4>By Lee Scott</h4>
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<p>The Calendar in my kitchen drawer has many of the events and appointments we have planned for 2019. When I looked at this month’s calendar it said “April 27, 2019 – BLUE ANGELS.”</p>
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<p>I had to stop for a minute and look at it again. That’s not right, the Blue Angels fly in May, at the United States Naval Academy Graduation in Annapolis, not April.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Then I saw the flyer under the calendar. The Marine Air Corp Station Air Show starts on April 27, 2019. My Blue Angels will be back here in Beaufort.</p>
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<p>For me, there is a nostalgia of being able to see the Blue Angels perform. When I was in banking in Annapolis, we would go up on the roof of our building and watch the show from there.</p>
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<p>Then for many years, I had the opportunity to watch them from boats. It was incredible to see them flying up the Severn River and buzzing the Maryland State House in Annapolis.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>But the best time to see them was in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium while watching newly commissioned officers in the Navy, Marines and Air Force. It was always spine tingling.</p>
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<p>Now we get to see them here as they buzz around the Lowcountry.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>What is interesting is that my husband and I just watched a documentary about F6F Hellcats on the Smithsonian Channel. These were the planes which were built in WWII and were the first planes used by the Blue Angels.</p>
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<p>History has it that after the war, Admiral Chester Nimitz wanted to create a flight exhibition team to raise the public’s interest in Naval Aviation. The F6F Hellcats were chosen and then in 1949 the first jets were used.</p>
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<p>The F95-2 Panther had a maximum speed around 575 mph compared to the Hellcat, which had a maximum speed of only 379 mph.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Since 1986, the Blue Angels have been using the F/A-18 Hornets, which have a top speed of Mach 1.8! Translated, that means up to 1,190 miles per hour. Admiral Nimitz, who died in 1966, would have been very impressed.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>As for you history buffs, you might want to check out the Blue Angels website <a href="https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/">https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/</a>. It has lots of information.</p>
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<p>So, hopefully, the weather will be good for the air show, but regardless, the show goes on rain or shine.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>You can still see numerous exhibits at the Marine Air Corp Station and there is also a Kid’s Fun Zone.</p>
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<p>As for me, even though my favorite part is still seeing the Blue Angels fly, I am hoping for a day out boating, eating a picnic lunch, and watching all the air show.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Now it really feels like home.<br>
<br></p>
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