10 April 2012

Cadets enjoy holiday weekend in Flight

Four Ascension Composite cadets took to the skies this holiday weekend. On Saturday morning, Civil Air Patrol Pilot, Lt Col Phil Collins, CAP, USAF Retired, flew 4 Orientation Sorties.
Lt Col Collins, has been flying cadets for years and he never seems to tire of sharing his experience and knowledge with these young men and women.

According to Cadet Sr. Airman H.Pike, the coordinator of the O-Flights, Saturday Morning, 7 April 2012, Cadet Airman D.Geromini and Cadet Basic Z.Ross had their first O-Flight and Cadet Airman L.Ross and Cadet Airman 1st Class M.Christian took the left seat position for the second and third time respectively.

Pike called each cadet after their flights to see how it went. Cadet Z.Ross commented that it was pretty good and the coolest Part was how it felt when taking off and landing, while his sister, L.Ross was super excited that she did her first 360 turn by herself. Cadet Geromini's thoughts on his first flight was "It was pretty good because I didn't die." a little nervous Cadet Geromini? Cadet Christian, the more experienced of the four noted that it was "bumpy but lots of fun."

Lt Col Collins and the other pilots with Ascension Composite fly O-flights for all the cadets in their squadron,as well as  East Ascension and Donaldsonville High School AFJROTC and LSU ROTC cadets. Other missions flown by these pilots include Search and Rescue, Photo Recon, support to State and local government and other missions as assigned by AFRCC. But Pilots and cadets are not the only members who fly, any Senior member or cadet 18 or over may train for air crew positions even if they have no prior aviation knowledge or experience.

For more information on the Civil Air Patrol and it's missions of Emergency Services, Aviation Education and Cadet Programs, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or contact Ascension Composite at capla022@gmail.com.