Soaring
We're back with coverage of Cadets going through the final Spring Soaring Go for the academic year! Each Go Cadets only have 10 lessons of Soaring and must try to complete 4 flights within that time.
This summer we will be back down at the airfield catching Soaring and Jump for rising 3 Degrees, and Powered Flight for the rising Firsties. I wonder which Cadets we'll see at each program! Those who take the summer Soaring class will then become eligible for AM 461, the Cadet Instructor Pilot Upgrade Program which they would take their Sophomore year) - and those who we catch over at Jump (AM 490), will be eligible for tryouts onto the Wings of Green!
Most of the Cadets we catch during the academic year with our coverage of Soaring are the 4 Degrees, as they fly during the morning and into the afternoon, but more than likely with our afternoon coverage you will see more of a range of all 4 Classes. The reason being is that while the 4 Degrees are going through AM 251, the upperclassmen (mostly 3 Degrees) are going through Airmanship 461 or AM 461.
AM 461 is a Cadet Instructor Pilot Upgrade program, which will run all semester long. Only a certain number of 3 Degrees are selected from the applicant process and those who are selected will be the next generation of Soaring IPs (Instructor Pilots). While the 4 Degrees in AM 251 only have to take 4 Flights, the 3 Degrees in AM 461 must complete a total of 80 or more flights, not to mention ground and flight evaluations. The Cadets who complete this program and get their wings are the Air Force's yougest instructor pilots. Once AM 451 is completed the Cadet IPs can take one of two programs. AM 472 where they would then become instructors for the AM 251 program. Or AM 473, where their main job would be to train the next group of cadet instructor pilots.
To view the rest of the pictures from our M and T Day coverage of Soaring go to; Galleries - Airmanship - Soaring. Or click the link below.