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Headquarters
Los Alamitos Glider Training Squadron 41
Civil Air Patrol
June 24, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Civil Air Patrol Cadets Soars Los
Alamitos Skies
Los Alamitos, CA ----- Twelve Civil Air Patrol
cadets from five states are currently under going glider flight training at the
Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB). The cadets arrived on June 21st
and will conclude their training on July 2nd. Operations Center for
this National Flight Academy – Glider is at Civil Air Patrol’s Squadron 41
Headquarters situated on the Los Alamitos JFTB. Activity Director is Col Ernie
Pearson, Director of California Wing Glider Program.
This activity is one of many sponsored by National Headquarters, Civil Air
Patrol. Its objective is to provide cadets (ages 14 and over) quality flight
experience through soaring. Lessons learned and flying skills acquired can be
applied to future powered flight training. National Flight Academy – Glider
training locations include California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, and
Wisconsin.
Soaring is ideal for cadet orientation to flying. Gliders are simple and
straightforward with just the basic instruments and controls. Flying silently,
like a bird, with the blue sky above and the earth below in its entire splendor
stretching towards the horizon. All this while experiencing and mastering the
principles of flight by maneuvering the aircraft in the direction of one’s
choice.
The cadets will be receiving their flight training in one or both gliders (Blanik
l-23 and Schweizer 2-33) being used. These gliders will be towed and released
at an altitude of 1,000 feet or 2,000 feet by a Cessna 182 or a Maule MT-7-235
aircraft
During the ten days of glider flight training, the students will have completed
twenty flights. They will also be taught glider assembly/disassembly,
aerodynamics, preflights, ground handling, aero tow procedures, instruments and
pitot static system, communications procedures, cross country planning, and
other related aspects of the glider and required knowledge to safely fly it.
Upon the completion of their training, each cadet student will be receiving a
Civil Air Patrol Pre-Solo Badge signifying that they have completed the National
Flight Academy – Glider course. For their participation, they will also be
awarded the Civil Air Patrol’s National Cadet Special Activities Ribbon
--More--
Civil Air Patrol cadets attending the Glider
Flight Training are C/A1C Jason L Atwell (ID); C/TSG Joseph G Berger (CA); C/SMS
Jacob W Forst (NV); C/MSG Joshua D Gray (CO); C/A1C Dustin D Littleford (ID);
C/CMS Edward R Netcher (NV); C/TSG Carol J Nielson (ID); C/2Lt Michael T Padgett
(IN); C/TSG Michael K Rafferty (CA); C/MSG Patrick D Ramirez (CA); C/MSG
Nicholas P Wikar (IN); and C/A1C Michael R Worl (NV).
Glider Instructors are Capt David Bowden; MG George Harrison, USAF (Ret); Capt
Tom Hird; Capt Ron Hodge; Col Ed Lewis; SM Jim Martellotti; Col Ernie Pearson;
and Maj Dave Widrig. All are Civil Air Patrol members and qualified glider
pilots/instructors.
Civil Air Patrol tow plane pilots being Capt
David Bowden; Lt Col Joe Chizmadia; Capt Woody Fowler; Capt Tom Hird; SM Peter
Morejon; and 2Lt Mark Pearson
Command staff personnel: Capt David Bowden – Chief Instructor; Chaplain (Lt Col)
Dan Dyer; Capt Ron Hodge – Aircraft Manager; Col Ed Lewis – Safety Officer; Lt
Col Fred Mahadocon – Public Affairs Officer; Col Rick McDow, USAF (Ret) –
National Headquarters Cadet Programs Support Manager; Lt Col Virginia Nelson –
Administration and Finance Officer; Col Ernie Pearson – Activity Director; Lt
Col Mike Prusak, USAF (Ret) –Project Liaison Officer; Lt Col Jim Welliver –
Project Officer; Maj Dave Widrig – Standard/Evaluation Officer; and Lt Col
Charles Wiest – Activity Deputy Director.
Support staff members includes C/SRA David Bowden Jr – Ground Crew; 2Lt Timothy
Rafferty – Cadet Support; C/SRA Shaun Strobridge – Ground Crew; Capt Gary Swift
– Ground Instructor; Capt Ernie Zoeter – Flight Line; and Capt Kitty Zoeter –
Flight Release Officer.
Civil Air Patrol, the official USAF Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization. It
performs more than 85% of inland search and rescue missions tasked by the Air
Force Rescue Coordination Center in the continental United States. Volunteers
also take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentor to America’s
youths through Civil Air Patrol’s cadet programs.
--30—
Lt Col Fred Mahadocon
Public Affairs Officer
909 371 2154 (Tel)
909 898 9154 (Fax)
mahadocon@sbcglobal.net
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