Tahoe Truckee Composite Squadron
(NV027)

Special Surprise

When the cadets arrived for their meeting on January 22, 2000 they were greeted with the "AWESOME" sight of two F-18, Hornet, fighter jets parked in front of the terminal building at the airport. When they got their break, they were allowed to walk on the ramp and examine the aircraft up close. It was really neat to be so close to these Navy aircraft from LeMoore, NAS near Fresno. If only they knew what was ahead for them!

During their Aero Education class, somebody yelled "ATTENTION!" and everybody jumped to the position of Attention as the two Navy pilots entered the room. They told them about their careers in the Navy and about flying missions in Operation Desert Fox, going to Top Gun School and landing on aircraft carriers. They answered all of their questions and invited the Cadets to climb up to the cockpit of their F-18's for a individualized orientation tour of the different systems that they use in Air-to-Air combat. One of the Pilots had been in the Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet when he was in school.

The cockpit was small, but full of instruments that they use to control weapons, aircraft, engine and fuel systems. Each Cadet got to spend a lot of time getting individual attention from these Navy pilots. Alas, it was time for them to take off to complete their mission for the day. As the F-18's taxied to the take off end of the runway the Cadets had sad faces.

We marched the Cadets to the edge of the taxiway, about mid-field, and as the F-18's took off our Cadets rendered the Hand Salute to these brave Naval Aviators. You could see them return the Honored Salute from their cockpit. The Cadets faces were now beaming with Pride.

After take off, the two fighters joined up as a flight of "Two" and approached the airport. They performed a low level, high speed "Fly By" to return the "Honor" to our Cadets.

It was more difficult to attain their attention in the classroom after that! Maybe, next week the Space Shuttle will stop by for our Cadets.

Ron Kato, 1st Lt, CAP
Deputy Commander for Cadets
 
 

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20-JAN-2008
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