13 August 2008
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Ever since I joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), I’ve wanted to fly. It’s been a dream of mine to one day fly in the United States Air Force, and I believe I will get there, eventually.
 
It was the 26 of June, at the weekly meeting just following encampment, and I had no idea we would be told we were going for orientation flights that Saturday. 2d Lt Augustine, who is our Deputy Commander of Cadets, basically said “suit up in BDUs on Saturday cadets, your going on an “O” flight”. I, like Cadets Ferguson and Levesque, nearly jumped out of my seat.
 
Cadet Levesque and I were paired off at the 0900 flight Saturday morning. We were told to meet Lt Col Gray at Skyline Aviation, hanger 22. When I arrived, I met with Lt Col Gray and Lt Col Nussey. We went over the exterior parts of the aircraft, what they do, and how they help us in the air. We were flying a Cessna 172 type aircraft, which is standard for the CAP. We then conducted our pre-flight. We took a few pictures, and then got down to business.
 
We were taxied to taxiway Bravo, and were given safety briefing India. We received permission to take off, with the Fed Ex plane behind us. We started increasing our throttle, rolling down the strip, and before I knew it we were in the air, rapidly gaining altitude. As we gained altitude, we headed towards the western training airspace over Mertzon, 12 miles from Mathis field Airport, in San Angelo. As we passed over Lake Nasworthy, we could see all the people at the boat races that were taking place that weekend.
 
Levesque and I decided who went first in the front seat. We decided Levesque would go first because I was going to take pictures. The view was amazing. I could see my house. The ground looked like swirls of trees, lakes, and dirt. It was a little bumpy, but I liked it. We practiced some 90 degree and 180 degree turns, some ascents, and descents, and then turned back to the airport to switch seats. Levesque went to the back seat, and I went to the co-pilot seat. Finally it was my turn to co-pilot. I banked a little too much, but I felt I did well.
 
I think the back seat was a little to much for Cadet Levesque, because coming in he couldn’t take it, and he threw up. Thank goodness for the bag in the glove box, or he said it would have been my canteen.
 
Before I knew it, it was over, and we were back on the ground. We spent a few minutes talking about our experience to the next cadets who were going up.
 
The experience was over before I knew it, and my only though was, “when can I go up again.”


Article Submitted by C/SrA Airman Brian DeLaughter and photos submitted by C/SrA Brian DeLaughter and C/A1C Levesque