CTWG: Meriden, Local Youth Take to the Skies in the Civil Air Patrol

Meriden, CT. December 30, 2009

Six area teens experienced the thrill of aviation, through orientation flights with the Civil Air Patrol at Meriden Markham Municipal Airport during their holiday break. The cadets who flew for almost four hours in the Civil Air Patrol's sophisticated Cessna 172 enjoyed every second of it.

One of the cadets was heard to say “it was so cool. I was a little nervous at first, but then I was able to relax”.

The hour-long flights in a single-engine Cessna aircraft introduced the cadets to the science that makes flight possible. They learned about navigation, weather, aircraft instruments, flight maneuvers and more.

The cadets’ day began by helping to pre-flight their aircraft. Working with their pilot, they taxied their aircraft to Meriden’s runway 36, gave it full throttle and took off with a slight cross-wind, climbing to a 3,000 foot altitude. While aloft, the cadets handled the controls, during the non-critical stages of the flight.

The cadets noted, “It was very choppy up there”. And, “I thought that it would be much harder to fly, but it wasn’t”.

Once they reached their assigned altitude, the cadets turned east and navigated to fly over the Civil Air Patrol headquarters in Middletown. They then flew south following the Connecticut River.

Pilots involved with the flights were Major Leonard Schindler and Senior Members Roger Malagutti and Constance Castillo. They volunteered their time while the Civil Air Patrol provided the aircraft and fuel, at no cost to the cadets or the pilots. It was exciting for the pilots to see the thrill on the cadets’ faces once they finished their first flight. A rewarding experience for everyone involved.

The area youth participating in the orientation flights were Jonathan Blythe, Paul Corda, Eric Llaser, Francis Moua, Yosh Pant, and Franklyn Torres.

The pilot of the aircraft for the day was Major Leonard Schindler.