Civil Air Patrol
 

It has been over twelve years since I last flew a General Aviation airplane. Now that I've been laid off I found a way to get back into GA flying for a reasonable price and a good cause to boot.

It all started with a Saturday Pancake Breakfast hosted by the local CAP squadron near where I live. I'm looking forward to the camaraderie and an opportunity to fly a real airplane again.

Wow. Seeing something about CAP bought back some memories for me. Good luck with the flying.

Former Cadet 2nd Lt.
Former Cadet Deputy Cmdr.
Florida Wing
Palm Beach Cadet Squadron
Unit #08159
1973 - 1978

I remember the days.:cool:



atp

I was a CAP Cadet in Jersey 00-04
Schirra Squadron in Ramapo

I was attending some Senior Member Meetings in Ormond Beach FL to become a mission pilot (C-182) was going through all the process, but my hectic schedule over the last few months prevented me from being much of an active member.

CAP has C-172s/182s C-208

Joined in 1980 - finished with the Spaatz award - they paid for the majority of my flying through my Private certificate with a scholarship earned from performance in ground school. Of course; I spent many hours drilling, ironing my uniform, and sleeping in tents (and standing CQ in the middle of the night) on SAREX's in addition to the little bit of flying over the years.

Don't have much experience with CAP lately, but I would put them up there with the Boy Scouts when it comes to instilling proper values in our teenagers.

CAP can be a great program IF you get in the right squad. It's a volunteer program and some units are very poor. Flying is another matter. It's not easy to get into as a senior member. Most give up and I understand why. It may be easier to qualify for the next moon landing than fly a CAP Cessna.

A good local cadet program is where CAP shines.

.: The Civil Air Patrol :.

Former cadet. I'm grateful for them jump starting my flying career with the same type of scholarship LivinginMEM received.

I've watched CAP change over the years. Joined and quit twice as a senior member.

Will keep the post positive and simply say Otto is dead on about the qualification process. Some interesting personalities are attracted to the group, but overall they are committed volunteers with full time lives elsewhere.

I would suggest it to anyone who can stomach the bureaucracy that has been put in place to avoid liability issues.

Not true
 

Want to fly in our Senior Squadron? Show up at a meeting, do the paper work, submit to national (one month turn around tops), schedule a Form 5 ride with an instructor, have at the C-182 Nav III all you want (beautiful airplane by the way).

Great group of guys with many different backgrounds in our squadron. Only two of us are former military pilots.

Getting qualified to fly missions takes a little more time.