The Civil Air Patrol is celebrating Aerospace Day with a week of open houses across the state. The Owensboro squadron open house is March 5 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory on Tamarack Road.
The CAP is the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. CAP’s 61,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
The aerospace program provides opportunities for adults and youth to experience everything from rocketry, quadcopters, astronomy to flying in CAP aircraft.
Captain Ilse House, Kentucky Wing public affairs officer, said she invites the community out to meet some “amazing kids.”
“In a world where you hear all kinds of stuff that is not popular about the younger generation, the Civil Air Patrol give many youths the stuff that ignites dream,” she said. “I have seen young teens get glider pilots licenses before they could drive, get hot air balloon pilots license, get excited about engineering, and prepare for careers in the aviation industry.”
In addition to aerospace, CAP inspires youth to become the next generation of leaders in its Cadet Program. The program centers around its core values of integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect for ages 12-18. They have the opportunity to develop a passion for flying, leadership, cybersecurity as well as many other careers that they are exposed to while serving their communities.
In Emergency Services, both cadet and adult members train for disaster relief, search and rescue, and humanitarian missions. They develop skills in radio communications, first aid, and train to help our community in a state of crisis.
There are seventeen squadrons participating in a statewide Aerospace Day open houses from March 4-13.
Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
