Six Mountain Home teens Experienced the Thrill of Aviation

Cadets Samantha Pryor, Jesus Carrillo, and Brandon Adams, along with their pilot start-up the Cessna 182's engine. Photo by Capt Franklin Newbery, CAP

Through orientation flights with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at Mountain Home Municipal Airport Saturday. The cadets flew a combined 6 hours, on Saturday, Feb 20, 2010 in CAP's sophisticated Cessna 182.

The hour long flights in the single-engine Cessna aircraft introduced the cadets to the science that makes flight possible. They learned about navigation, weather, aircraft instruments, flight maneuvers, and more.

The cadet's day began by helping pre-flight their aircraft. Working with their pilot, they taxied their aircraft to the runway, gave full throttle and took off, climbing to the skies. While aloft, it was the cadets who were handling the controls, during the non-critical stages of flight.

Once they reached their assigned altitude, the cadets turned southeast and navigated to Gooding airport, where they made a brief stop. Then it was another cadet's turn at the controls for the flight home.

"I've been working with cadets for three years, and it's always exciting for me just to see the look on the cadets' faces when they finish their first flight" said Franklin Newbery, Captain of Mountain Home Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol. Captain Newbery coordinated with pilots from Boise, who volunteered their time, while the Civil Air Patrol provided the aircraft and fuel, at no cost to the cadets or the pilots.

The area youth participating were Jesus Carrillo, Kayla Bennett, Tyler Walsh, Brandon Adams, Leila Lovett, Samantha Pryor, Karla Rogers and Samuel Rosinsky.

The Civil Air Patrol Program is open to youth aged 12 through 18. Additionally, there are volunteer opportunities for adults, pilots and non-pilots alike. For more information, contact Captain Franklin Newbery at (208) 828-2456 or visit GoCivilAirPatrol.com