Indiana CAP Wing Pilots Conduct Mass 'O-Ride' Campaign

Five Indiana Wing pilots, in as many planes, launched a four-day flying campaign last month.

They provided orientation flights for 100 cadets in the Anderson Preparatory Academy, as well as 10 rides for Junior ROTC students and three Teacher Orientation Program flights for instructors.

All sixth- through eighth-graders participate in Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program at Anderson Preparatory, a tuition-free charter school.

The nearly 160 cadets focus on a college preparatory curriculum mixing liberal arts and sciences as well as military science.

“it's always fun to hear our cadets tell their orientation flight stories to each other after the flights, even if they stretch their bravery in the aircraft just a bit,” said the cadet squadron’s commander, 1st Lt. Michael W. Austin. One of our cadets told his grandmother when he finished his orientation flight, ‘That changed my life!’"

“Being able to have our U.S, Air Force JROTC cadets and teachers participate this week was the result of pilots, school administrators and Civil Air Patrol staff working together to promote aviation and the Civil Air Patrol program,” Austin said.

“COVID may have slowed us down, but it did not prevent us from accomplishing our mission.”

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com