South Sound Civil Air Patrol Cadets Take to the Sky Over Olympia

Major Richard Stack (left) mentors Cadet Felts (right) as she prepares to bank the aircraft. Source: South Sound Composite Squadron
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Submitted by South Sound Composite Squadron

Cadet Staff Sergeant Z’berg (center in the foreground), assists in the pre-flight of the Civil Air Patrol aircraft before the orientation flight. Source: South Sound Composite Squadron
Cadet Staff Sergeant Z’berg assists in the pre-flight of the Civil Air Patrol aircraft before the orientation flight.
Source: South Sound Composite Squadron

Three area cadets experienced the thrill of aviation, during orientation flights with the South Sound Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. These flights took place from the Olympia Regional Airport on Sunday March 23, 2014. The cadets flew in CAP’s sophisticated Cessna 182.

The hour-long flight 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 cadets’ day began by helping pre-flight their aircraft. The Cadets assisted their pilot, Major Richard Stack. They taxied their aircraft to the runway, gave it full throttle, took off from Olympia Regional Airport, and then climbed to cruising altitude. While aloft, it was cadets who handled the controls during the non-critical stages of the flight, under the close and careful supervision of a qualified pilot of the Civil Air Patrol who is properly licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Cadet Felts participated in her first orientation flight where she banked and turned the aircraft at a safe altitude under the supervision of the pilot in command, Major Richard Stack. This first orientation flight was the first time she had ever been on a plane and she flew right in the cockpit.

Major Richard Stack (left) mentors Cadet Felts (right) as she prepares to bank the aircraft. Source: South Sound Composite Squadron
Major Richard Stack (left) mentors Cadet Felts (right) as she prepares to bank the aircraft.
Source: South Sound Composite Squadron

They cadets travelled south-by-southwest and navigated to Chehalis – Centralia Airport, where they observed a “touch and go”. A touch and go is where the plane lands on the runway normally, but then immediately takes off without leaving the runway.

After returning to Olympia Regional Airport, Cadet Staff Sergeant Z’Berg then went up with Major Stack and participated in his eigth orientation flight where he maneuvered the aircraft to the point of almost stalling at a safe altitude.

The cadets that participated were Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Desoto, Cadet Staff Sergeant Z’Berg, and Cadet Felts. The pilot was Major Richard Stack.

There were future orientation rides plannedon March 29, but the squadron’s aircraft is supporting emergency operations in Snohomish County. It is expected that more Orientation flights will occur soon after the aircraft is available again.

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet 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 the Squadron Commander, Captain Percy Newby at (360) 481-7545, or visit GoCivilAirPatrol.com.

 

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