News and Activities

McChord AFB Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol

News and Activities

October 1, 2002

McChord Squadron Members and Guests Fly in C-17 Flight Simulator

This tour (set up by our Reserve Assistant, Maj Lloyd Tweedt, USAF) allowed Cadets, Senior Members, and prospective members a chance to "fly" all around Washington State while inside McChord Air Force Base's c-17 flight simulator.

The first room we toured (photo to the left) was the Computer Based Training (CBT) room. Here, pilots work on their "book knowledge" of the aircraft through computer guided lessons based on the aircraft tech order manuals, and are tested as they complete a study module (i.e. aircraft electrical system, hydraulics, powerplant, instruments, etc.)

The second room (photo to the right) was the Reconfigurable Desktop Simulator (RDS). This is more of a "working model" to famaliarize pilots with the functions of the various cockpit switches and displays. Pilots can practice running checklists, preflighting the mission computer (programming the flight plan, loading aircraft weight and balance numbers to get takeoff and landing performance data, and loading air refueling and airdrop data if applicable for the flight).

Our instructor pilot (wearing blue shirt in photo to left) was Mr. Charles Mann, of the Boeing Corporation. Just before entering into the simulator itself, we visited the computer room. This room holds all of the computer processing power necessary to run the entire simulator program. (Note the blue cabinets behind the cadets)

Standing on the bridge, waiting to enter entering the simulator are (from left to right)
Cadets Wilkins, Naldrett-Jays, Adamson, Guenthoer, Andes, White, SM Claypool, Cadet Bradley, and our Squadron Commander, Lt Col Kahley. (not shown: Cadet Hetrick)

Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside the simulator cockpit, but this didn't stop everyone (guests included) from being given that chance to fly as the "Pilot-in-Command" of the C-17 simulator. We flew around, banked, climbed, turned, and everyone got the chance to make a "Victory Roll".
The best part... No one crashed!

We want to thank our instructor pilot, Mr. Charles Mann, and the Pilot/Simulator Scheduler for McChord AFB, Mr. Jerry Tecca. Mr. Tecca was able to provide our squadron with both the instructor and simulator time for exactly when we asked for it.

August-September 2002

Don't you go thinking that we haven't been doing anything. We've been doing stuff, just nothing that we had decent photos of. We had 6 cadets attend this years Washington Wing Summer Encampment, maybe we can get some good pictures from the Encampment? webmaster@mcchord.org

July 13, 2002

Cadet Nathan Wilkins at the controls of a Cessna 182

Cadet Orientation Flights

Several cadets and pilots gathered at the Tacoma Narrows Airport for another round of cadet orientation flights (aka "O-Flights")

The Cadet Orientation Flight Program is designed to introduce cadets to general aviation through hands-on orientation flights in single engine aircraft and gliders. The program is limited to current CAP cadets under 18 years of age.
The program is voluntary and primarily motivational and it should stimulate an interest in general aviation and aerospace activities.
At no time do cadets sustain any costs associated with the Orientation Flight program.

Click here to see more photos and video of the day's events.

1st Lt Dan King answers cadets questions before beginning the pre-flight inspections

June 30, 2002

B-17G FLYING FORTRESS "Nino-O-Nine" and B-24J LIBERATOR "Dragon and His Tail" visit Bremerton National Airport

These rare 4-engined bombers, which are completely restored to WWII configuration, will be on display June 30th until their departure at 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 3rd.

1st Lt Michael Moore was present for the bombers' arrival and took several photos.

He also was able to capture some video of the landings:

B-17G Fly-by 23sec - 528KB
160 x 112

B-17G Landing 14sec - 328KB
160 x 112

B-17G Engine Shut-down 15sec - 5.3MB
320 x 240
(high quality)

B-24J Landing 15sec - 5.3MB
320 x 240
(high quality)

June 26, 2002

Lt Col Mark Kahley was the guest speaker for the Squadron's Dining Out

McChord AFB Composite Squadron 2002 Dining Out

This year's Dining Out was held at the McChord AFB Officers' Club.

Click here to see some photos of the event.

Please be patient as the images may take some time to load.

May 18, 2002

Model Rocketry Takes Off!!!

Twelve cadets from McChord Squadron gathered on a beautiful sunny Saturday to launch their newly built rockets.

Cadets are in pursuit of the CAP Model Rocketry Badge which requires that, along with achedemic and leadership requirements, each cadet build a rocket and launch it in four competitive categories.

The categories chosen were:

Altitude - The higher the better

Parachute Duration - The longer the better

Spot Landing - The closer to the target the better, and

Payload Altitude - Flying high while packing a payload

Rocketry Updates

Additional launches have been scheduled.
Click here to see the latest standings in the "Road to the Rocketry Badge"

Click here to view a video clip from one of the May 18th launches (29sec - 655KB)

April 29, 2002

Pacific Region Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol

The Pacific Region Cadet of the Year is C/Lt Col Sharon J. Oakley of McChord Composite Squadron.

The award was presented at the Pacific Region Conference this past weekend. Since C/Lt Col Oakley is attending college in Washington, D.C. and was not able to personally accept the award, it will be officially presented to her this summer at a wing activity.

Her selection for this award probably played a large part in Cadet Oakley being selected to receive a $1,000.00 CAP academic scholarship.

April 23, 2002

National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
Academic Scholarships Announced for
Washington Wing Cadets

Amount	Cadet	Home Squadron
$1000	Sharon Oakley	McChord
$750	Dustin Mixon	McChord
$500	Julia Bauler	Spokane
$500	Mayli Heiser	Mount Rainier
$250	Kristin Jones	Fire Mountain
$250	William Lee	Northshore
$250	Evelyn Perez	Spokane

Special congratulations to our McChord cadets for their outstanding academic achievement!

Cadets who have received the General Billy Mitchell Award are eligible to apply for a variety of Civil Air Patrol scholarships and special activities.

April 2, 2002

Lt. Col. Kahley (photo to left) reviews the process for properly landing a plane on it's propeller.

(OK, not really.)

In the photo to the right, Senior Member Lynda Kelly, who's service to McChord Squadron is nothing short of amazing, receives some well deserved congratulations (and promotion to the grade of 2d Lt) from Lt.Col. Mark Kahley

March 30, 2002

Cadets gathering at the Tacoma Narrows Airport for Orientation Flights (o-flights) got a happy suprise when Mother Nature cooperated and provided excellent weather for the event.

LtCol Mark Kahley discusses the pre-flight checklist with cadets prior to the day's first flight.

LtCol Mark Kahley talks cadets through the pre-flight inspection while answering their questions (LOTS of good questions.)

Some video of the day's activities:

Another safe landing at Tacoma Narrows	25sec - 576KB 160 x 112
Pulling in to park and trade cadet passengers	21sec - 472KB 160 x 112
Cadets Andes and Naldrett-Jays getting back on the ground	20sec - 464KB 160 x 112
In the air with LtCol Mark Kahley at the controls	36sec - 800KB 160 x 112

Returning the plane to Bremerton:

Cockpit view of the final approach to the runway 15sec - 1.3MB
320 x 240
(high quality)

Cockpit view at touchdown 15sec - 1.3MB
320 x 240
(high quality)

Lt Hansen (left), LtCol Kahley (center), with Cadet Wilkins after finishing his "First Flight".

March 16, 2002

Color Guards and Drill Teams from all over Washington Wing gathered at Camp Murray to participate in the 2002 Washington Wing Cadet Competition.

The 1st Place Drill Team was from Fort Vancouver Composite Squadron, while the 1st Place Color Guard was from the Renton Composite Squadron.

During a break in the day's events, cadets from Skagit Composite Squadron's Color Guard (photo lower right) receive some helpful instructions from one of the Drill Team Judges.

For those who didn't know, Skagit Squadron is where Lt. Moore joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet (...way back in 1982).