ORide

The Air Force provides funds to the Civil Air Patrol for the purpose of introducing our cadets to the joy of flight, and to show them the basics of flight control, flight & weather planning, navigation, safety, and decision making. Each cadet is allotted five-one hour flights in the front seat, and as many as they can hitch a ride upon in the back seat, of a powered aircraft, and another five rides in our non-motorized glider. Cadets must be “in good standing” within their squadron and progressing in the CAP program to participate.

The pilots for this program are highly skilled, have many flight hours in their log books, take a special check ride, and be safety minded. Most have advanced aeronautical ratings. Like all CAP missions, these pilots donate their time to the program. Often, when the budget for the year has run out, many pilots continue to fly the cadets, and buy lunches, at their own expense.

This past summer I started asking the cadets to write a paragraph or two after their Orientation Ride (“O Ride”) for the purpose of sharing this program’s benefit with you. I told them to write anything they wanted, but to tell me how they felt prior, during, and after their O Ride, and what they learned.

Below are their stories, in their own words. I have only edited their stories for spelling and clarity.

On the flight we had a fun time. Our flight director was safe. We were very safe. We got to fly the plane. He taught us how to fly the airplane.

We went over lots of rivers and lakes. When we landed the first time we taxied back to the spot where we started. Then we got out and we switched spots.

We got back from flying, then we filled up the airplane with gas, then when we were waiting for that to finish. We got to get some drinks. Then the airplane was done then we taxied back and we were done with our flight.

We had to keep your eye on lots of things. One, keep the plane level and straight. The second thing was keeping it level with the horizon. Then the third thing was keep the plane going.

On the dates of July 26 and 27, I had the opportunity to partake in an Orientation Flight. The day prior I felt excited and a little bit nervous, mostly that I would be sick. Cadet basic Ben Anderson and I arrived at the Saint Paul airport in time for our flight which was at three o'clock. While we were waiting in the old terminal, Lt. Scott Johnson arrived from flying with another cadet. After we met we decided to reschedule our flight for the next day on account of storms moving in from both directions. Here Lt. Johnson taught us our first lesson in safety; don't fly into weather that could turn nasty fast.

The next mourning we arrived earlier for a flight at twelve o'clock. We decided to fly to Eau Claire and I got to be co-pilot first. I learned how to go through a pre-flight check for the interior and the exterior. Then we had to ask permission from the control tower to taxi to a runway and take off. Once in the air I was taught how to steer a plane with my feet as well as the yoke. We also had to keep a look out for other planes and tell each other where they were and whether they were above or below us.

Most of all I learned how to act safely and wisely while in an aircraft. When so many things are going on at once it would be easy for something to go wrong. That is why it is important to be smart and responsible. Safety should be the key word in everything you do.

My O-Flight with Lieutenant Scott Johnson to Eau Claire was very fun. Scott conducted the flight with the utmost form of professionalism. At the beginning of the day, we pulled out the Cessna and performed a pre-flight check on everything from the fuel to the ailerons. We were careful to check everything carefully and precisely, and at the end of the fight, we wiped down the aircraft from unfortunate bugs that had been squished.

The first day we showed up, we decided not to fly, due to the unsafe weather, so we went up the day after. Before we flew, I was kind of nervous, as it was my first time in a small aircraft. But once we got up in the air, my nerves went away, and it was really fascinating to see St. Paul from up above. It was neat to see how the land was divided up into squares, and how small everything looked. Once we reached our destination at the airport in Eau Claire, we had lunch at a restaurant in the terminal. When we flew back, we refueled at Million-air and taxied back over to the hanger and pushed the Cessna back into the hanger. It was very enjoyable and I would like to do it again.

The following events took place Tuesday, July 25, during my o flight experience...

I start my adventure by driving with Lt. Johnson up to the hanger. We got out of the car and entered the side door of the hanger. I saw that there were two planes in the hanger and the one with the civil air patrol logo on it was behind the first. We started by sliding open the hanger doors. We had to pull the plane in front of the CAP plane out first in order to get the CAP plane out. So that’s what we did. Lt. Johnson started by instructing me to remove the chocks from the wheels, which are used to keep the plane’s wheels from moving when it’s parked.

After we removed the chocks, Lt. Johnson attached a towing device to the front wheel and told me to push the plane out of the hanger. As we left the hanger, we had to be sure to clear the wing tips so that the wings wouldn’t hit the side of the hangar. Once we got the plane out we parked it to the side so that we could get the CAP plane out. We did the same thing getting the CAP plane out as we did the first. We then brought the first plane back in. Lt. Johnson then joked that one of the most boring parts about fly is doing the paper work. So for about five minutes Lt. Johnson worked at a desk in the hanger writing things down.

I took this time to look around the hanger and ask him a few questions. After he was done at the desk, we walked over to the plane and he began telling me some safety things to check on the plane. He told me how steering works, and how to check the gas tank. He told me the Different parts of the airplane, a lot of which I can’t remember now. We checked the oil and made sure there were no nests in the engine. He also told me that there still may be some torque left in the propeller so that I had to careful around the propeller.

After checking the outside of the plane and showing me how it works, we were able to get started. We closed the doors of the hanger and got into the plane. He told me that airplane doors don’t have a spring in them so that I shouldn’t slam the door. I pulled the door tight and latched it down. We left the windows open because it was so hot. We plugged in our radio headphones so that when the engine started we could still hear each other. He told me that I was going to be the co-pilot. He gave me a pre flight check list to read off. As I read it off I was set the transponder to a standard frequency, 1-2-0-0. He started the engine and we started to taxi towards the runway. We did one more pre take off check and then Lt. Johnson radioed the control tower to clear us for takeoff.

We got the runway and started to increase speed. He told me to lift the nose up 10 degrees. So I pulled on the stick and we started to rise. And it was awesome. We climbed to about 2000 feet. The whole flight seemed really smooth. Every so often Lt. Johnson told me to change our heading to West or North. Before every turn I had to check left and right to be sure no planes were coming. I had to coordinate turns by using the stick and the peddles. To get the smoothest turns, there was this instrument on the front panel with a ball in it, I had to keep that ball in the middle by pushing on the peddles less or the stick more. I once made too sharp of a turn, and scared Lt. Johnson. It only happened once.

It was so fun being up there. You could see everything. I could even see people walking down the street. We got a good view of giant crop circles and farms. I could see cows running around below us. It rained a little, but that didn’t matter. After what seemed like thirty minutes, Lt. Johnson suggested we land. He contacted the control tower and got permission. We were to follow another plane nearby to land. So for two minutes or so we looked around for the other plane. It was kind of hazy out, so it was kind of hard to find the plane. But we found it, and headed towards the runway. As we got lower to the runway, we started slowing down. As I saw the runway ahead of us, Lt. Johnson said, “Do you think were going to make it?” I knew he was joking, but it was still a little scary. But we did land fine. We taxied to the old terminal building where two more cadets were waiting to fly. And that is where my story ends.

I really enjoyed riding with Maj. Block and Cadet McMahon on 8/23/2006. McMahon was the first to get to ride up front. Maj. Block took off and, at maybe 2000 feet, he handed the controls over to McMahon. I sat in the back seat and took pictures. He told McMahon how to fly the plane I think he learned a lot. I just got queasy. Sitting in the back isn't what it’s cracked up to be.

Then after 45 minutes, or so, Maj. Block had McMahon fly back to the St. Paul Area. Then we landed and switched seats. I was then taught how to taxi. Maj. Block took off and taught m the basic maneuvers, then he taught McMahon. I didn't feel sick any more.

McMahon fell asleep in the back. We then woke him up and went back to the St. Paul area. I flew over my church. That was really cool. I would really like to go with Maj. Block again.

My first orientation flight was to the Red Wing Airport with Lt. Johnson and Capt. Cerny. Three other cadets and I volunteered to help at the Red Wing Air show.

The first thing we did when the CAP plane returned to the St. Paul airport was to check the fuel. Two prior senior members returned it with enough gas. However Lt. Johnson said that it is always very important to check the fuel in a plane yourself, before flying it. We also checked the plane and tires for any damage. When we got into the plane we went through the pre-flight checklist. We checked the flight controls and the RPM to make sure the engine ran smoothly. We also checked the brakes.

When the checklist was completed, Lt. Johnson radioed in to the St. Paul tower to request permission to take off. Once we had our clearance we took off. When we were in the air and had our correct heading to Red Wing Lt. Johnson taught me how to turn the plane to the right and left, how to ascend and descend, and how to increase and decrease speed. Then I was allowed to give it a try. It was an amazing experience to fly the plane by myself! This was the first time I ever flew a small aircraft to a destination. It was cool to be able to tell my friends that I “flew” to Red Wing! I thought it was really neat to be able to see the air show being set up from the air! When we taxied off the runway and parked our plane on the tarmac, it felt like we were parking a car in a parking lot, even though we were in an airplane, parking a plane!

At the Air show we helped the Red Wing Squadron keep spectators at a safe distance from the planes and also helped with traffic control. It was exciting to see all the different types of planes. We had a lot of fun getting to know and work with other Cadets in CAP.

My second orientation flight was last week with Major Block. When we arrived at the St. Paul Airport we checked the weather forecast at the terminal on a computer to make sure conditions were still safe to fly. After that we went to the hanger where the CAP plane was parked. The first thing we did was to check the fuel and to make sure there wasn’t any water in it. We checked the oil, tires, brakes and lights. We made sure there was no damage to the plane. When we finished we pulled the plane out of the hanger, locked the hanger and got into the plane. We continued our pre-flight checklist by checking the flight controls and the RPM. When that was completed Major Block requested permission from the tower to take off.

It is always exciting for me to see the ground get further and further away! We could see the 3M building as we headed towards Wisconsin. It was very neat to see the 3M building form the air, when I have seen it so many times from the ground! After we crossed the St. Croix River to Hudson, Major Block demonstrated left and right turns and how to ascend and descend. Then I was allowed to give it a try. Once I practiced turns, and ascending and descending Major Block taught me how to combine the two. One neat trick that Major Block used to teach me how to keep the plane level was by using a grease pencil to put a dot on the windshield that was level with the horizon.

I was allowed to fly around and practice the new maneuvers I just learned. It was really neat to be able to control the plane by myself. Then I learned more about increasing and decreasing speed in level flight. It was really cool to control the throttle in a plane completely by myself! I flew most of the way back to the St. Paul airport. When we landed Cadet Rehbein and I switched spots and it was his turn. We re-fueled at the Million Air terminal. It was like getting gas in your car, except they did it for you. While our plane was being we re-fueled we waited inside the terminal. That was a lot of fun also.

I’m not sure how much fuel our plane took, but I think it was probably a lot less than the C-130 we flew in to the North Shore a couple of weeks ago. The C-130 is enormous! It also is a lot of fun to fly in. I was in the cock-pit on take off, but I sure wasn’t allowed to practice any maneuvers in that plane. We went on the flight with military medics.

I had a great time and learned a lot on all three of these flights. They were so awesome and amazing!

I flew on Monday with Lt. Col. Adams. I thought it was a great experience. I inspected the plane, I flew the plane, I read the check list, and I also learned how to make turns. I saw all different kinds of airplanes at Eau Claire Wisconsin. I did not understand any of the radio talk.

My O flight went very well. On the O flight I had control of the plane for about 15 minutes. During this time Colonel Adams showed me how to turn the airplane. This was very fun, at first I thought I was going to tip the plane when I turned but I didn't. Colonel Adams was a very good pilot and taught me a lot of things about flying while I was in the cockpit. It was the most fun I had all summer!

When I first went on the flight I was scared! But once I was up there I was happy to fly. Before we went off we checked over everything and you told us to be SAFE, to buckle up and we can take off and it kind of took forever to do everything. I was happy when we finally took off.

When we were up in the air, I was saying to myself, please don't let us crash! But of course we didn't. The best part of the flight was when we did the figure 8's! I can't wait till we can do that again!!

I learned how to properly turn by lifting the opposite wing to check for other airplanes, then rolling into the turn and how to perform turns. Climbing, descending, cruising- I managed to get the basics of using trim when cruising to take away excessive effort of my part.

I got an idea of communicating with airport traffic and towers. I learned how to do all the checklists before takeoff and how to taxi. Finally I learned how to enter the basic traffic pattern which was extremely interesting seeing how all air traffic communicates to pull it off safely. Thanks again for taking the time out of your meeting to fly with Mark and I.

On September 12, I went on my second powered orientation flight with Lt. Johnson. We flew from St. Paul Airport to Milaca MN.

Once we were over Milaca Airport Lt. Johnson taught me how to do different turns. I learned figure eights (S Turns), tight (30°) right/left turns, and loose (5~10°) right/left turns. I also became more acquainted with the gauges and instruments and how to use them safely and properly.

All and all I had a fantastic time, and I am looking forward to flying again.