Four Cadet Teams Seek National Drone Competition Crown

Four cadet teams from three wings – Alabama, Maryland, and Virginia – are competing July 22-24 in the Academy of Model Aeronautics UAS4STEM drone competition at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, with two each representing Civil Air Patrol in the event’s five-team Advanced and Beginner divisions.

The Alabama Wing’s Redstone Composite Squadron has reached the Advanced Division four straight years. Joining the Redstone squadron’s Alpha team in this year’s national Advanced finals is a team from the Maryland Wing’s St. Mary’s Composite Squadron team, which finished first in the Beginners division in 2023.

This year’s Beginners Division entries are the Redstone Composite Squadron Bravo team, also including Mountain Lake Composite Squadron cadets, and the Virginia Wing’s 55 Knights team, which includes William P.  Knight Composite Squadron members along with local Scouts.

UAS4STEM is the Academy for Model Aeronautics’ Unmanned Aerial Systems for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program. The Beginner Division teams will focus on the fundamentals of drone programming and flying. Advanced Division competitors will work to develop a mechanism to pick up4and transport items to different locations.

Here are the two Advanced teams from CAP:

Redstone Composite Squadron Alpha

St. Mary’s Composite Squadron

Here are the Beginners division teams

Redstone Composite Squadron Bravo, which includes cadets from the Mountain Lakes Composite Squadron

The 55 Knights team, which includes youth from Scouts BSA Troop 55B (Boy) and 55G (Girl)