North Penn HS Air Force JROTC Cadets Fly Across Montco

LANSDALE, PA — It's one thing to read it in a book, it's another to live it.

A pair of North Penn students in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) had the opportunity to experience flight firsthand recently, riding in the front seat of a small aircraft across Montgomery County.

The flight in the Cessna 182 plane gave senior Mike Wister and sophomore Lorna Loughery the chance to see the skies, the instruments, feel the experience, even see North Penn High School far below. The U.S. Air Force funds one orientation flight for every JROTC cadet.

"I expected it to be somewhat complicated and I expected the controls to be very sensitive," Lorna said after the flight. “It was one of, if not the best, things I have ever done. It was amazing to see the world from a different perspective and experience it with a teacher who I never thought I would end up flying with."

The North Penn School District said that the plane was flown by Penndale Middle School teacher Matt Wendell, a member of Civil Air Patrol who has 20 years of flying experience.

The trio began in Doylestown, landed in Pottstown, switched seats, and then flew back to Doylestown.

"It was great to get the opportunity to learn how to control an aircraft and get a firsthand view," Mike said. "A lot better experience than just talking about it."