Local Cadets Take Black Hawk Flight

Forty high school students who serve as cadets with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) spent one recent morning learning about helicopters and Virginia Army National Guard aviation. At the end they were rewarded with a 20-minute low-level helicopter flight from Leesburg Airport to Harpers Ferry, WV, and back.

The 2^nd Battalion, 224^th Aviation Regiment (224AVN) sent six Iraq war veterans and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Sandston, VA, headquarters to assist with the orientation program. For a couple of hours inside Leesburg Airport, the four pilots explained how helicopters fly, what makes them different from airplanes and specifications about Black Hawk helicopters. The veterans also answered questions about being deployed to Iraq and expressed their pride in being the last aviation units to leave Iraq in December 2011. The two crew chiefs discussed their maintenance responsibilities and provided in-depth safety briefings before the orientation flights.

Safely secured in their seats by four-point harnesses, the cadets enjoyed the view—and the breeze—as the big doors on either side of each helicopter were left open during the flight to and from Harpers Ferry. With the aerodynamic theories well in mind, the cadets experienced first hand the various phases that a helicopter goes through as it takes flight, including the very noticeable—but normal—vibrations that occur just before landing.

2^nd Lt. John Riordan, the Leesburg CAP activities officer, coordinated the event with Col. James Ring, the State Army Aviation Officer for the Virginia National Guard.

“This opportunity—to meet veteran Soldiers and to see them doing their jobs—adds new options to the careers they might consider,” Riordan said. “And flying in battle-tested helicopters will be something to brag about at school!”

Ranging in age from 12 to 21, CAP cadets have extensive opportunities to learn about aerospace and aviation, leadership, and volunteering. The cadets who flew in the Black Hawks were from Leesburg Composite Squadron and from Winchester Composite Squadron. Other CAP-sponsored summer activities cadets have pursued include airplane and glider flight training, the remote control aircraft academy, hot air ballooning, honor guard school and leadership encampments.

About 2^nd Battalion, 224^th Aviation Regiment
Headquartered in Sandston, VA, this battalion is comprised of more than 400 Soldiers from various parts of Virginia and Maryland. There are six companies in the battalion and 30 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. On May 20, 2012, Governor Bob McDonnell issued a proclamation recognizing the battalion and its citizen-soldiers for their service and sacrifice in Iraq in 2011.

About Leesburg Composite Squadron and Civil Air Patrol
Leesburg Composite Squadron meets every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Virginia National Guard armory on Sycolin Road across from Leesburg airport. Its 90-plus cadets are students at middle schools and high schools in eastern Loudoun and western Fairfax counties. For more information visit www.leesburgcap.net

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 70 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.

[Thanks to the Leesburg Composite Squadron and the Civil Air Patrol for providing the information and photos.]