20101022 The Blue Angels (1)

The Blue Angels

The Blue Angels treat audiences to a spectacular air show

This weekend, the skies over Jacksonville, Fla., will roar to life as one of the nation's most famous air squadrons, the Blue Angels, flies into town. The flight demonstration team, composed of highly trained U.S. Navy and Marine Corps jet pilots, will display some of the most difficult flying techniques ever performed. Their shows include vertical rolls up to 15,000 feet. The skilled pilots also combine graceful circles with spectacular dives, amazing their crowds with incredible precision flying. For the big finish, six planes look like they lock wings as they fly 500 miles an hour, only 18 inches apart.

This weekend's show is just one of 68 air shows the Blue Angels will perform in 2010, their 64th year of exhibition.

How did they begin?

At the conclusion of WWII, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz wanted to find a way to keep the public interested in naval aviation. Based on his orders, a flight demonstration team was formed, and in June 1946, the Blue Angels performed their first air show. Since then, nearly 250 pilots have performed astonishing midair maneuvers with the group for more than 463 million fans!

squadron n. (空軍的)中隊

corps n. 兵團/軍

=> military unit

naval adj. 海軍的

=> have to do with navy

astonishing adj. 令人驚訝的/驚人的

corps n. 兵團/特種部隊

=> p不發音，單數型和複數形的拼法都是一樣的

=> 單數型時的s是不發音的

=> 複數型時的s是要發音的

eg: The general ordered the two Marine Corps to be combined.

=> 將軍下令將兩個海軍陸戰兵團合併

eg: Mark served in the intelligence corps for over 2 years.

=> Mark在情資部隊超過兩年

precise adj. 精確的/準確的

precision n. 精確/準確

eg: Doctors need to use precision instruments while performing surgery.

=> 醫生開刀的時候必須使用精準的儀器

eg: The race car driver's precision driving skills impressed the entire audience.

=> 這位賽車駕駛精準的開車技巧讓所有觀眾都留下深刻的印象

man- 手

maneuver n. 巧妙的動作/花式的表演

eg: With a quick maneuver of the car, the driver avoided an accident.

=> 司機以快速而且靈活的動作躲過了一場車禍

maneuver n. 軍隊的調度

eg: The troops' smart maneuver guaranteed our victory.

=> 部隊的靈活調度確保了我們的勝利

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Blue Angels 特技飛行小組

angel n. 天使

angelic adj. 天使般的/純真可愛的

guardian angel 守護天使

=> 一個會照顧及保護我們的人也可以是我們的guardian angel

saint n. 聖人

saintly adj. 神聖的/道德尚高的

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Blue Angels Fast Facts

- The average age of a Blue Angeles pilot is 33.

- In 1989, Blue Angels pilot Chuck Brady became an astronaut.

- The highest Blue Angel maneuver performed is called the Opposing Solo.

- The lowest maneuver is called the Sneak Pass

The fastest speed flown during a Blue Angel air show is about 1100 km/hr.

The slowest speed is around 190 km/hr