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Blue Angels Gear Up For A Spectacular Show This Weekend

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- While the Sailabration is underway at the Inner Harbor, another big part of the celebration is in the skies.

Rochelle Ritchie has more on the spectacular Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels say they are just as excited to be here as we are to have them, and they promise to put on quite a show.

With cell phone cameras snapping away, spectators like 14-year-old Kyle say to see the Angles up close and personal is an honor.

"I think the last time the Blue Angels were here was in 1959," Kyle said. "So it's kind of cool seeing them here in my lifetime."

Even more of an honor: Flying with the men and women who defend our country.

Captain John Hecker briefed us on what we would be experiencing on Earnie, a C-130 aircraft.

"We go up to about 1,500 feet," Hecker said.

Sharp turns, steep dives, intense speeds, oh... and motion sickness.

They shoot up about 1,500 feet in two seconds, and eventually, the plane will hit 375 miles per hour.

The wild ride took us across the Baltimore skies at more than 200 miles per hour from Martin State Airport to the Inner Harbor. At times, we lost gravity, knocking everyone off their feet.

While the twists and turns are eye-catching, Staff Sergeant Kevin Sanchez says it's much more than a show. The maneuvers can be a matter of life and death.

"That's what it was designed for. That's why for the demonstrations, we show the capabilities that this aircraft can do, going in and out of hostile environments," Sanchez said.

The Blue Angels will perform on Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m.

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