36112,
02
September
2021
|
15:28 PM
America/Chicago

Airport Aerospace Education Day Draws S.D. Cadets

Aerospace Education Day at South Dakota’s Philip Airport gave cadets from across the South Dakota Wing a chance to take orientation rides and experience hands-on aerospace activities.

In all, 20 wing members traveled to the event from Rapid City, Spearfish, Custer, Philip, Pierre and Sioux Falls.

Lt. Cols. Buck Deweese and Myra Christensen flew a pair of Civil Air Patrol planes in from Spearfish and Pierre, respectively. After arriving they provided nine orientation flights for cadets.

Cadets also engaged in activities involving small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, model aircraft operation, multi-stage model rocket construction and experimentation with the wing’s new wind tunnel and wing tester

Col. Mike Beason and Capt. Donny Weiand, certified CAP sUAS pilots, demonstrated drone capabilities in search and rescue operations.

“The ability to conduct all the day’s events on the airport grounds increases the number of activities our cadets can participate in during the limited time we have together,” said Maj. Tim Modde, wing director of aerospace education.

“It’s truly a unique opportunity, one that would not be possible at larger airports around the state,” Modde said.