Cadets Learn To Fly By Remote Control
On Saturday, August 5th, ten of our Cadets spent the day flying – but with their feet firmly on the ground.
The cadets participated in a remote control (R/C) aircraft Flying Day that was organized in collaboration with the Texoma R/C Modelers Club in Sherman. The activity, which took place at the club’s flying field west of Sherman, capped off a project in CAP’s Aerospace Education program in which the cadets spent several weeks learning how R/C aircraft are constructed and how they operate, and using computer simulators to practice flying. Their studies also included learning about aerodynamics, aircraft design, power, and guidance.
But, as the saying goes, hands-on experience is the best teacher, which led to organizing the Flying Day.
The R/C club provided gas-powered model airplanes, controllers, and instructors for the activity. Each cadet was paired with an instructor, who used a dual-control system called a “buddy box” that allowed the cadet to control the aircraft, but also provided a way for the instructor to take over if a problem came up. The instructors controlled the planes during takeoff and landing, but the rest of the flying was in the cadet’s hands.
“Our goal is to get them up in the air and let them get used to controlling the airplane,” said Raymond Fulenchek, Texoma R/C Modelers Club president. “We can take over if they run into trouble and fix it, then give control back to them so they can continue flying.”
These first flights consisted of following a simple pattern in the sky using gentle turns. Gusty winds made some of the turns a challenge at times; but, with guidance from their instructors, the cadets learned how to adjust to the changing winds and successfully guide their aircraft around the course.
After all of the cadets had a chance to fly, the instructors then gave the squadron’s adult members an opportunity to take the controls. This was a little more entertaining, since they had not practiced as much as the cadets had with the simulators.
During a break for lunch, several of the R/C club’s members took turns demonstrating different models including an electric-powered twin-engine plane, a P-51 Mustang racer, a ducted-fan F-22 Raptor fighter, and a glider. Following the break were more cadet flights, with the event wrapping up by early afternoon.
Everyone who participated came away with a better understanding of how R/C aircraft worked, and some of the cadets expressed an interest in continuing to learn how to fly the diminutive planes after the event was over.
“We enjoyed working with kids and teaching them how to fly,” said Fulenchek. “We hope this will lead to more days like this of working together [with Civil Air Patrol] in the future.”
Activities such as this are a part of CAP’s program of providing instruction and activities for its cadets that focus on subjects in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Other STEM projects the cadets have or will be involved with in the future include Model Rocketry, Robotics, Flight Simulators, Astronomy, Quadcopters, Hydraulic Engineering, and Weather.
For more information about Texoma Composite Squadron and its Cadet Program, please continue visiting our web site! For more information about the Texoma R/C Modelers Club, please visit www.texomarc.org.
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Sherman/Denison, Grayson County Airport, TX
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