The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 858 Skookumchuk Squadron (Sunshine Coast) hosted their third annual All About Flight Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Sechelt Airport. Although cloudy weather inhibited some planes from attending from points in rural B.C., local plane displays were sensational.
Cadets were able to showcase their skills in many areas: shelter building, orienteering, theory of flight and first aid. BCIT professionals were on hand to discuss their aerospace program with those interested, and information was provided on careers in aviation from the ground up.
More than 200 people took in the many displays available from cadets and the event’s flying sponsors.
A raffle was held as an annual fundraiser and the winners were announced at 2:05 p.m. There were other on-site draws as well. Youth aged 10 to 15 were able to enter to win a helicopter ride with Airspan. Five young people left the airfield with their helicopter pilot Paul Tosczak for a flight around the Coast.
Air cadets is a program open to young men and women aged 12 to 18. They meet at Davis Bay Elementary School every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. Anyone who might be interested in joining is welcome.
Cadet training provides expertise in many areas. To further their training cadets attend summer camps (two to six weeks) annually and bring their skills back to share with their squadron.
They also hold Ground School weekly (September through December) to prepare those cadets who are going to be writing scholarship exams that qualify them to apply for camps to obtain their glider or pilot’s licence.
– Submitted by Joan Thibault
