FLYRC mentors Civil Air Patrol Cadets

SOUTHBURY, Conn. - July 7, 2016 - PRLog -- Eleven cadets from Civil Air Patrol's 399th Composite Squadron in Danbury, Connecticut, gathered at a runway on Mitchell's Farm in Southbury, Connecticut on June 4, 2016 to learn how to fly radio controlled (RC) model aircraft from FLYRC airplane club members.

  FLYRC president Cliff Becker, who has been building and flying radio controlled airplanes for 47 years, provided cadets with safety and pre-flight briefings. He asked cadets to communicate effectively when in the flight area and to notify the group of takeoffs, landings, emergencies, and "man on the field." Becker also described some of the member aircraft present which included electric, gas and nitro powered models.

  Cadets stepped up to the four pits (flight area) and were met by FLYRC instructors Cliff Becker, Vinnie Krebs, Bob Milanese and Chris Vargo who reviewed the pre-flight checklist with cadets and showed them how to operate the flight controls. Cadets were then given a "buddy box," or a set of flight controls that can be overridden by the instructor's controls. The model aircraft were placed on the grass runway one at a time, started by the instructor who accelerated it down the runway lifting the aircraft off the ground. Control was turned over to cadets once the aircraft attained at least 300 feet.

  399th Composite Squadron cadets turned the aircraft away from the flight area and flew an oblong pattern for about five minutes each. FLYRC instructors worked with cadets to maintain flight, but easily regained control of the aircraft when necessary. Cadet Senior Airman John Hayes, who flies drones, was adept at flying the aircraft and noted operation was similar to guiding a drone. FLYRC instructors managed the landings.

  Cadets took turns throughout the day flying the various model aircraft, which included a Pawnee 235, SIG Kadet, SIG Four Star 60 and a WWI biplane among others. FLYRC member Patrick Napolitano commented "it's good to see so many cadets here and their enthusiasm for flying."

  By activity's end cadets were in agreement that flying radio controlled model aircraft required their full concentration but was very fun! Lieutenant Brian Waldron, 399th Commander for Cadets remarked, "Today was a great day for the cadets and trainers alike. Having this RC Airport 15 minutes from our squadron is a real asset. We look forward to working with the FLYRC club more in the future."

  Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. Civil Air Patrol, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent 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 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol's 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, Civil Air Patrol received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. Civil Air Patrol also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.

Visit http://www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

To learn more about the 399th Composite Squadron visit http://www.facebook.com/399thCompositeSquadron