I Took the Controls!

As a cadet in Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, I had the opportunity to take an orientation flight, or O-flight. I was sitting in the front seat of a Cessna 182 when the CAP pilot gave me a hand signal and said, “You have the controls.”

I put my hands on the controls and got to fly the airplane for part of the flight. The pilot was right beside me and remained in command, but I could feel the vibration of the engine through the yoke and experience what it felt like to fly an airplane.

Before we took off, I even got to help with the preflight. In CAP, you don’t just learn about aviation in a classroom. You actually get to experience it.

I have since taken my second O-flight, and this is one of the things I enjoy most about being a cadet in CAP. And if you were wondering, O-flights are free, with up to five sitting in the front seat and unlimited flights sitting in the back.

The cadet program is for ages 12 through 18. We meet once a week, and as we complete achievements, we earn promotions and take on more responsibility. The program focuses on leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.

Since joining, I have had a lot of experiences I never expected to have. In addition to taking O-flights, I’ve worked at the New York Air Show, helping with entrance and ticketing, and visited FlightSafety International to learn more about aviation and flight training, using the same full-motion simulators that professional pilots train in.

I also had the opportunity to fly on a USAF C-17 at Stewart Air National Guard Base. Being inside such a huge military transport aircraft was incredible, and I will never forget it.

I have also enjoyed a special tour of Pratt & Whitney, one of the world’s leading aircraft engine makers, and spent an overnight aboard the USS Intrepid. We have heard from Air Force generals and other people who have made aviation and the military their careers.

Next month, I will be traveling to Dayton, Ohio, with other members of the New York Wing to visit the National Museum of the USAF, which I am really looking forward to.

CAP is not just about airplanes or the military. Its missions include emergency services, aerospace education and developing cadets as leaders. As a cadet, I have learned how to work as a team, solve problems and take responsibility. There are also opportunities to attend weeklong encampments and put what we have learned into practice.

My next step is the Billy Mitchell Award. Earning it will make me eligible for promotion to Cadet Second Lieutenant and move me into the cadet officer ranks.

The biggest surprise for me, though, has been the friendships.

You spend a lot of time with the other cadets at weekly meetings, activities and field trips. You learn together, work together and have experiences that you probably would not have anywhere else. Some of the people I have met through CAP have become some of my closest friends.

If you live in Rockland County, I would definitely recommend checking out Civil Air Patrol Squadron NY-072. You don’t need to know anything about airplanes. Come to a meeting, meet the other cadets and see what it is like.

For more information, visit Civil Air Patrol.