Air Show

Being a member of CAP, Chip has had some terrific opportunities available to him.  One of them was security detail at the airshow a couple weekends ago.  He spent two long days walking the perimeter, policing the area and keeping people back behind the line.  He left home at 5am and didn't get home until 10pm.  He was tired, oh so very tired, but loved every minute of it.  We attended the airshow the 2nd day. 

It was pretty cool to walk in and see my eldest standing guard. Though the fact that he really looked like a soldier was sobering. The bus he is standing in front of has a jet engine and went down the runway at over 300 MPH.


We got a front row seat and saw some pretty cool planes and tricks.

Seeing the planes up high was much easier when they would put on their smoke.


This plane dropped parachuters. Those parachuters had red smoke but I didn't get a picture of them. :/


It was a cloudy-ish day but made for great silhouette pictures when the sun tried to pop out. Actually the sun fully came out about the time the show was over.


The University of Iowa engineering department has a trainer plane. They did a mock mission that was pretty cool.


Throughout the day we would catch a glimpse of Chip. He hated the fact that I took pictures of him. What he doesn't understand is I am proud of him.


Dill tolerated the obligatory picture.


And I love this picture of my oldest and my youngest. I have no idea what they are looking at since the airshow was in back of them. Notice the caution tape between the two.


The highlight of the day was being able to see USAF Thunderbirds.


Cool was psyched! His dream in life is to see either the Blue Angels or The Thunderbirds, preferable both. One down, one to go!
It was spectacular.


Of course, I am sure he was wishing he was a cadet in CAP because Chip was fortunate enough to not only meet The Thunderbirds, but got to see the planes and talk with the mechanics. Poor Cool had to go home while Chip got to have all the fun!


It was a great weekend, a great show, a great learning experience and something I am sure Chip (and the other picklets) will NEVER forget.

If you are interested in seeing a Thunderbird show, here is a great video, taken in Boston, from start to finish and is very good quality.




(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

Above All

I believe everyone has a calling.  Some know they are meant to be a mom.  Some a teacher.  Some an accountant.  Some know they are meant to be in the military.  Chip is one of those people. 

To better prepare Chip for that service we signed him up to be a member of the Civil Air Patrol.  He meets with his squadron about 2 hours per week to get aerospace education, moral leadership and physical training.  He dresses in BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) and spit shines his boots (which I found out doesn't really require spit!). He participates in mock search and rescue missions and  meets on the weekends for activities such as placing flags on the graves of veterans, marshalling aircraft at airshows and O-Rides.  O-Ride, short for orientation ride, has been one of Chip's favorite part of being a member of CAP.

Not knowing what to expect the first time, we took Chip to the airport dressed in BDU's, armed with sunglasses, chewing gum, a camera and water.  Soon a CAP pilot introduced himself and the next thing we knew we were on the tarmac watching Chip be briefed on how to do the pre-flight safety check. 



Soon after we watched the small plane take off "into the wild blue yonder".  A couple hours later we picked him up and found out that Chip actually got to fly the plane!  I think he was in love.


He has since had another motorized O-Ride (where grandpa was allowed on the tarmac to "inspect" the plane)





and a glider ride. He is hoping for 2 more, the maximum alotted per cadet in a given year. 















Since he is almost 18 this will be his first and last year of O-Rides.  It is too bad because had we known about the program earlier, he could have had several under his belt, been in line for pilot school or quite possibly had his own license by now.  Plus he is missing years of invaluable preparation received for possible search and rescue missions. 

Chip can continue to be a member of CAP, as a cadet, until he is 21 and if he keeps up his studies through CAP he still  has the possibility to earn scholarships that could possibly include flight school or better. 

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines