Four local teenagers, cadets with the Knox County Airport Cadet Flight of the Civil Air Patrol, participated in Orientation Flights at Knox County Regional Airport on April 19. The flights, conducted in a Cessna 182 aircraft, gave the cadets over five hours of combined flight time.
Cadet Senior Airman Lukas Yarman of Mt. Vernon said of his first flight, "It was great! It was a little windy up there! I was surprised how much the wind can affect a small aircraft."
C/SrA Lukas Yarman prepares for his Orientation Flight.
The hour-long flights introduced the cadets to aviation science, including navigation, weather, aircraft instruments, and flight maneuvers. "These flights are much more than taking off and going from point A to Point B," said 1st Lt. John Morgan, an adult volunteer with the unit. "Each cadet has the opportunity to take a certain number of these ‘O-flights,’ as we call them. Each O-Flight has a planned lesson, such as airport operations or navigation instruments for instance." Morgan said that pilots brief cadets on each flight’s topic before departure.
The day began with pre-flight checks led by the cadets. After takeoff and climbing to about 2,500 feet en route to Newark-Heath Airport, cadets were able to take control during non-critical stages of flight. At Newark-Heath Airport, seat changes allowed each participant an opportunity at the controls.
2nd Lt Jim Janik said he enjoys giving young cadets their first flying experiences: "For many, this is their first flight. And who knows, maybe that first flight will give them the dream of one day flying themselves!" Janik and Daniel Wilson volunteered as pilots for these flights; both provided their time while Civil Air Patrol supplied aircraft and fuel at no cost to participants or volunteers.
Civil Air Patrol Pilot Jim Janik goes over preflight procedures with cadets Abigail Hudson and Benjamin Steele.
The participating cadets were Cadet Airman Abigail Hudson; Cadet Senior Airmen Benjamin Steele, Lukas Yarman and Seth Yarman. Assisting were Capt Ronald Winget and 1st Lt John Morgan. The Knox County Airport Cadet Flight meets Monday evenings at 6 PM at Knox County Airport terminal building. More information about programs or volunteering is available through Civil Air Patrol’s website at the organization's website.
