The Blue Angels airshow is something you have to see to believe.

The in-flight maneuvers that the Blue Angels' Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet performs would seem impossible to someone who has never seen a Blue Angels airshow; yet, the Blue Angels have been performing these astounding maneuvers for over 70 years with remarkable precision. Blue Angel Pilot Number 4, Navy Lieutenant Lance Benson, recently spoke to students at Beaufort High School during a community outreach event about what it takes to achieve a seemingly impossible level of greatness.

The Blue Angels' mission is to represent the pride and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps, and to inspire a culture of excellence and service to country. Thousands of people in Beaufort, South Carolina watched in amazement as the Blue Angels thundered across the sky at speeds up to 700 miles per hour, diving and flipping, at extremely close interval and low altitudes. It was a display of excellence in fight.

The Blue Angels, in their signature Blue and Gold, are a symbol of greatness for people across the United States. According to Lt. Benson, the amount of effort that Beaufort High School students put forth to achieve academic excellence is the same effort that they will need put forth to achieve greatness in any endeavor, to include becoming a Blue Angel.

"There was a ton of information that I had to learn to become a Blue Angel and I worked hard," says Benson. "I was in complete shock when they told me I made the team. If you want to be good at anything, while everyone else is hanging out and partying, you're going to have to work hard and study."

Lt. Benson has accumulated more than 2,300 flight hours and 200 carrier assisted landings. His accomplishments would not have been possible without the help of the Blue Angels team. In his opinion, being part of the team is the best part of being a Blue Angel.

"The single best thing about being a Blue Angel is the teamwork. The team that I am a part of is second to none," says Benson. "We have some of the best pilots and aircraft maintainers in the world. Every single one of us are working toward the same goal. It takes all of us to achieve greatness."

Through their airshows and community outreach events, the Blue Angels highlight the potential for greatness that lives within every American that can be achieved through teamwork.

In a written statement, Navy Commander Randy Bernacchi, Blue Angels Commanding Officer says, "It is our hope that when you look into the sky and see Blue Angel aircraft, you see the embodiment of teamwork, professionalism, and precision, but more importantly the capacity for greatness that exists in all Americans."

For Blue Angels Airshow dates, visit https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/show/

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For more news from Navy Recruiting District Raleigh, visit www.navy.mil/.