Cadets Spread Wings with Civil Air Patrol
Abilene, Texas (March 15, 2022) – Amid a looming shortage of future aviators, Civil Air Patrol is finding a way to rebuild the shortfall. Members from the local unit assembled this morning to give cadets orientation rides in a Cessna 172.
“I’m honestly just really excited about getting to fly,” Cadet Michael Hinshaw states, “especially being able to fly over and see my house.”
Cadets start their flight on the ground learning how to perform a preflight inspection of the aircraft, but quickly find themselves strapped in and ready for takeoff. Once cadets are in the air, the orientation pilot brings lessons from books to reality demonstrating Newton’s Laws as well as the forces of flight. Typically cadets also get an opportunity to spot and photograph their high school and homes.
Lieutenant Colonel Jed Taylor states these flights are important because they “expose cadets to something that most people never get an opportunity to see or do.”
According to Cadet Airman Sam Daughtery, “Take off and landing was a little scary, but other than that it was a lot of fun.”
“It was a lot of fun,” stated Cadet Malachi Daughtery, “I got to control the airplane and it was a lot of fun. I even got to go over DiamondBack Golf Course.”
In response to an inquiry about obtaining a private pilot’s license, Captain Robert Hartman replied, “Civil Air Patrol has programs, scholarships, and flight academy’s cadets can take part in.”
As cadets returned from the last flight of the day, smiles were spread across the faces of every cadet. “It was SUPER AWESOME,” Cadet Airman Jacob Brouse exclaimed hidden behind a huge smile.
To keep up to date with Abilene Composite Squadrons activities, make sure to follow them on social media @AbileneCAP.
Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and more than 2,000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 54,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to more than 20,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.
For More Information:
Will Holloway - wholloway@abilenecap.org, 325-518-1620
Jed Taylor - jtaylor@abilenecap.org
