Fourteen cadets from eight wings in five Civil Air Patrol regions took significant steps toward earning their private pilot certificates during the 10-day Falcon Flight Academy held July 11-20.
Hosted July 11-20 by the New Jersey Wing in partnership with Ocean County Municipal Airport in Bayville, the academy provided immersive flight training under the instruction of Federal Aviation Administration-certified flight instructors and experienced CAP support staff.
“Falcon Flight Academy embodies Civil Air Patrol’s commitment to developing tomorrow’s aviation leaders,” said Col. Amy Myzie, New Jersey Wing commander. “This program not only builds critical piloting skills but also instills confidence, discipline, and leadership in each cadet.
“We are proud of their accomplishments and grateful to the dedicated staff and instructors who make this opportunity possible.”
Throughout the week, cadets followed rigorous daily schedules, including early morning departures from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, headquarters for the New Jersey Wing, for flight training sorties at Ocean County Municipal. Each day included several hours of both flight instruction and ground school, followed by evening briefings to review progress and prepare for the next day.“This academy can be life-changing,” said Maj. Robert McClellan, who headed the academy. “Cadets not only gain confidence in their piloting skills but also develop a deeper understanding of aviation that will serve them well in their futures.”
The participating cadets were:
Caifornia WingClover Field Composite Squadron 51
Cadet Maj. Eli Ash
Illinois WingCol. Charles Compton Composite Squadron
Cadet 2nd Lt. Sonel Lee
Idaho WingNampa Composite Squadron
Cadet Capt. Jacob Leckie
Maryland WingCarroll Composite Squadron
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Grahm Christensen
Massachusetts WingCape Cod Coastal Patrol 18 Composite Squadron
Cadet Lt. Col. Isabella Niemann
Cadet Staff Sgt. Daniil Dubinsky
Hanscom Composite Squadron
Cadet Staff Sgt. Aiden Hsu
New Jersey WingCapt. Bud Jackson Composite Squadron
Cadet Maj. Aniruddha Kulkarni
Cadet Maj. Floria Nehe
Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron
Cadet Capt. Luke Patterson
Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., Composite Squadron
Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Johnathan Jones
Pennsylvania WingQuakertown Composite Squadron 904
Cadet Master Sgt. Maxwell Zientara
Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base Composite Squadron 902
Cadet 2nd Lt. Evin Kimbel
Virginia WingRoanoke Composite Squadron
Cadet 2nd Lt. Sofia Fleming
_____1st Lt. Lucy CouvertierPublic Affairs OfficerNew Jersey Wing
