Planes are great, aren't they? They go fast, and they can take you to fascinating places. The producers of this DVD have based their show on the simple observation that time stops for kids when planes fly overhead. This is the first installment in a planned series of animated aeronautic adventures featuring Andy and his best friend, a ferret named Yaygrr. (Pronounced like "Yeager." Get it?) In each 30-minute show, Andy learns about a specific airplane. Here, the plane is the F-18 Hornet, the classic craft flown by the legendary Blue Angels of the US Navy. During Andy's adventure, he also learns about aircraft carriers, navy lingo, and how the famous pilots work together. Andy's relationships with adults and other kids during the show also convey important information about how to treat others.

The animation is quite well-done, the music is catchy, the pace is brisk and the information genuinely interesting. Did you know that aircraft carriers each carry around 80 planes in below-deck hangars? These are BIG ships. And during a takeoff that lasts less than two seconds, the F-18 is launched with a slingshot from 0 to 150 miles an hour. And the shipboard mess is open 23 hours a day to feed the 5,500 crew members. The animated segment is followed by a live-action visit with two youngsters on an actual aircraft carrier, reinforcing and supplementing the information we gathered during Andy's experiences.