CAP Cadets get chance to experience flight in sailplane

Friday, August 29, 2008

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadets from Mountain Home, Boise and Nampa met Aug. 16-17 at the Mountain Home Municipal Airport to take part in glider orientation flights.

CAP offers an orientation flight program to children, ages 12-21, who become cadets of CAP. Each cadet was given a 20- to 30-minute flight over Mountain Home. The flights are provided to give children an incentive to explore aviation principles.

Each cadet performed various tasks to help the glider and tow plane into position, while waiting for their turn to climb into the cockpit of the glider.

Once airborne both aircraft climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) before releasing the cable from the sailplane and the two aircraft went their separate ways.

The pilot of the sailplane flew around looking for thermals, a column of warm air rising from the ground, then once in the thermal put the glider into a steep turn while climbing to a higher altitude. When the pilot found an altitude of his or her liking they simply glided away from the thermal to perform some acrobatic maneuvers.

When the pilot descended the sailplane back to the earth he or she would line up for the runway and landing. After the sailplane landed cadets who remained on the ground would rush out to the helpless sailplane and push it back for another hook up to the tow plane. A new cadet would climb in and off they went for another flight.

When asked what they thought about the flight, the answer was always the same, "Wow! That was awesome!" Other cadets on the ground would ask the cadet after his or her flight, "What was it like?" Each cadet had their own story to tell the others. The experience was unique to all of the cadets. Every cadet returned to earth with a big smile on their face. They all said they wanted to go again.

If a child meets the age criteria of CAP and has a strong interest in aviation, "there is no better way to get them behind the controls of an aircraft then to check out idwg.cap.gov to find a CAP squadron closest to you," said CAP 1st Lt. Franklin Newbery. He also can be reached by calling 590-4336.

CAP also provides guided learning materials and experience to enhance a child's leadership abilities through activities such as the glider flights and encampments, "just to mention a couple," Newbery said. "Cadets get hands on experience in all facets of CAP. CAP also provides scholarships to cadets who meet scholarship requirements."

Adults can also join CAP, becoming senior members. CAP is the USAF auxiliary. Upon request from the USAF, CAP personnel perform search and rescue missions locally or around their state for missing or downed general aviation aircraft. CAP is always looking for general aviation pilots to fly CAP aircraft on search and rescue missions, cadet orientation flights and such.

Persons interested in becoming a senior member for CAP should go to: idwg.cap.gov to find the nearest CAP squadron.

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  • If you are interested in learning more about the local organization, here is Mountain Home's CAP Cadet Squadron 052 web page link:

    http://mountainhome.idwg.cap.gov/

    Ron Rogers,

    Web Page Editor Volunteer

    -- Posted by IdaFind.com on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 4:03 PM
  • Excellent story! More pictures!

    -- Posted by BruceGibson on Sun, Aug 31, 2008, at 2:44 PM
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