Col Randy Price presents Cadet Flt Sgt Scott McLean with the 'Top Stick Award' at CFB Comox Summer Camp in August.
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Col Randy Price presents Cadet Flt Sgt Scott McLean with the 'Top Stick Award' at CFB Comox Summer Camp in August. |
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LCol 'Burner' Byrne straps Cadet Scott McLean into his CF -18 from Cold Lake for the ride of his life. |
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Cadet Scott after the ride in a CF-18. (Above photos courtesy CFB Comox) |
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Co-ed Cadets marching at Red Deer this summer. Shades of 4 FTS Penhold, same place, 50 years ago! Photo courtesy Tony Swain |
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Kevin Maher seeking oil in Bessy's inards for an anxious Copaguy at Delta this June. Photo courtesy Dave Browning |
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Ray Roussey and Donna Holmes on final for Delta last month during Donna's Navion famil ride. Photo courtesy Dave Browning |
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Dave Brownings Piper Pacer and Donna Holmes on the beach at Vargas Island on the wild West Coast recently. Photo courtesy Dave Browning |
Earlier this year we had to scrub a flight in Bessy for a young Air Cadet because the wind blew me round in circles. That was one disappointed kid.
Two years ago another young cadet, Scott McLean got to ride in the Battle of Britain Flypast, and walked on air for weeks after.
Anyway, the following press release arrived from Captain Rob Wilson RGS(P) PAffO CFB Comox, concerning that very same cadet... And I am envious as old get-out!
COMOX BC....
August 16, 2003, Comox BC... White Rock Air Cadet earns his Wings and a Jet Fighter ride near the Speed of Sound.
For 16-year-old Scott McLean, a member of 907 White Rock Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, summer 2003 will not soon be forgotten. Following six weeks of intensive flight training at the Regional Gliding School on the CFB Comox Air Force base he graduated with honours and netted a one hour flight on board one of Canada's premiere jet fighters, the CF-18 'Hornet.'
Cadet Flight Sergeant McLean, a grade 11 student and volunteer at the Delta Heritage Airpark, was rated the best 'hands-on' glider pilot in his class of 44 students graduating from the course.
He was presented his 'wings' by Col. Randy Price, commander 19 Wing Comox during graduation ceremonies Aug. 14, and is now a qualified licenced glider pilot. One hour later, he was flying near Mach 1, the speed of sound, in the CF-18 piloted by LCol. Shawn 'Burner' Byrne, commanding officer of 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cold Lake Alberta.
His parents, Chris and Kathryn McLean and younger sister watched on. It was the eve of his 16th birthday.
The top-all-round glider graduate, F/Sgt. Craig Coleman-Shepard of Port Moody earned a weeklong advanced gliding course at Elmira, New York, the home of the Schwiezer Aircraft factory where the air cadet gliders were manufactured.
The first runner-up, Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Majercsak of Chilliwack was treated to a ride on the new CH 149 'Cormorant' search and rescue helicopter and second runner-up, WO2 Steven Roelofs of Kelowna got some hands on flying on board a SAR 'Buffalo' aircraft. 442 SAR Squadron at 19 Wing operates both aircraft.
Thirty-four more cadets earned their power flying wings and the Transport Canada private pilot licence following seven weeks of flight training at Courtenay Flight Centre and Parallel Aviation at Campbell River.
World War Two fighter pilot Wing Commander James 'Stocky' Edwards pinned 'wings' on each power student on the grad parade witnessed by about 400 spectators. Another WWII vet, Wing Commander Douglas 'Duke' Warren presented the two top power students with books entitled 'Spitfire II -The Canadians.'
Another 41 cadets enrolled in the Introduction to Aviation Course (ITAC), were presented with certificates of achievement after three-weeks of studies at the RGS (P) ground school.
ITAC student, North Delta cadet Sgt. Hassan Choudhary, earned an air navigation trip
in a Cessna L-19 tow-plane with his flight safety poster design contest winning entry.
SIGH!!!....
When I was a young-un the only military training my college offered was the Combined Cadet Force, and 'Combined' meant 'Army' in our case. We did lots of marching.
Once a year went to camp to scramble over the North Yorkshire Moors with neutered rifles, avoiding thunderous flashbombs, and blokes roaring about in Bren Gun carriers.
The highlight of the week was a ten mile march to watch an RAF Vampire jet blast an old tank to smithereens. We enjoyed that!
But in Canada, amazing opportunities do abound for the young.
When we were to Wetaskiwin in July, I stopped off at Penhold, and saw my old training base still teeming with keen young cadets, only for a couple of months in the summer, but the 50 year old memories evoked are incredible!
SURREY - KING GEORGE...
Those who fly in the Vancouver Lower Mainland, Boundary Bay, Langley and Pitt Meadows area, should be alert for the revised King George airport pattern in this popular airspace.
The May 03 CFS describes a circuit pattern of 800 feet, topped at 1000 feet. However, the Boundary Bay airport procedures diagrams ask pilots to avoid overflight below 1500 feet.
I am told that King George pilots generally enter their pattern from 1300 feet, and circulate within about a three mile circle. The radio frequency is 123.5
We are asked to please avoid flight through their circuit pattern, and to remember that numerous Ultralights are still NORDO.
The entry in the CFS is under Surrey/King George. Flight procedures in this general area are under constant review, so take care, and review the current CFS and VTA Charts regularly.
CABBAGE ISLAND ET AL...
Our flying Artist Toni Onley complained recently that he was asked to leave the Cabbage Island Marine Park located just north west of East Point on Saturna Island.
He'd gone there to paint, and had set up his easel. Shortly thereafter a Park Warden lady arrived and told him this was now a National Marine Park, and aeroplanes were not permitted. He should pack up and leave immediately.
Furthermore, he should not be flying less than 2000 feet over said park.
Here's a proper kettle of fish!
These marine parks, as originally set up by the Provincial Parks Service, are always located at a well known safe harbour of refuge. Usually a nice little sheltered bay. It's just by the way that they are scenic and environmentally pristine.
The Province went around buying up such spots to preserve them from private owners who may deny access to fellow Canadians. It appears that our National parks Service has acquired numerous BC Marine parks in the Southern Gulf Islands to preserve them for... Who???
It's likely I don't have the full story here as we go to press, however this new trend should concern us all, and you can expect to be called on to write some letters to your MP in the near future.
DELTA DOINGS...
It's been that kind of summer. Everyone seems to be flying about, but me.
Dave and Donna have been off camping on the beach at Vargas Island. What a glorious place, though I understand the water is a mite freezing.
Others have been off to Pender Island, Holroyd's new place and other exotic rendezvouses.
Me? I've been chasing down oil leaks and changing plugs. Old Bessy took to freeking leaking. Got it all stopped now... I have knowledgeable friends.
And my airplane doctor Mike had to replace a hose. Plugs are fun at forty bucks a crack... Ouch! At least 5amp fuses are cheaper by the box. You want? I can spare a couple.
However, all this fawning over Bessy is to no avail if old 'Tug' refuses to work. Some friends gave Tug a big facelift, and we were so happy, until last week she refused to pull her own weight. Stalled dead when put in drive.
This was a disaster of major proportions, and four car genius people were totally baffled.
Maybe this. Maybe that. Sounds like weak mixture, bad plugs, brake fluid low, and so on. But old Ted called the next day. He knew the trouble. Fuel tank outlet bunged.
Ted turned up early next morning with his Magic Vehicle Fixing Truck, full of every goodie you might dream of. Hooked up his fancy electric fuel pump, and proved that the tank was not plugged. Now what?
Well, we tore down the fuel pump and cleaned out a bunch of rust, painstakingly re-assembled with brown sav, and it pumped like crazy, but didn't fix the problem.
I shock loaded the carbs, which improved things. We removed the idle jets and sucked em out. Ran sweet as pie.
Yup, the old Corvair, she ain't what she used to be, but she's getting us there. Working like a charm now. But need a Standby tug!
SPITFIRE CHARLIE...
Long time senior sport pilot Charlie Longstaff told me over coffee the other day that he has hung up his goggles, says he's "Getting on."
An enthusiastic member of the RAA since it was just a little EAA, he has been a Delta Icon forever, and admits to feeling a mite creaky these days.
Whenever Charlie pulled his georgeous scale Spitfire out to go fly, a great crowd appeared from nowhere. Sadly for Delta, his fans, and the various Remembrance Day Flypasts, he tells me his beloved Spit, and venerable Piel Emeraude, are up for sale.
It's been a slice Charlie, but stick around, there'll be lots to do around the club!
Well, I guess that's all this month ...Fly Safe.