SYLVANIA — Cadets with the Civil Air Patrol, Effingham Cadet Squadron were recently hosted at Plantation Airpark near Sylvania for basic cadet training and orientation flights (O-flights). Seven cadets took part in the activities which included training in flight line marshalling and ground team activities related to search and rescue.

Cadets taking part and/or providing training to others included Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Abbs, Cadet 2nd Lt. Adre Acevedo, Cadet Staff Sgt. Cameron Exley, Cadet Sr. Airman Lukas Lariscy, Cadet Airman Josh Shannon, Cadet Dustyn Stewart and Cadet Airman Tyler Venegas. This was the first flight for both Shannon and Stewart.

As part of the O-flights, cadets get to choose their route during the flight and are even given control of the plane while in the air. Several of the cadets chose to fly over their homes or schools as part of the activity, adding a personal element to the process. Lt. Col. John Wolfe and Capt. Roger Crane, both of the Savannah Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, served as the O-flight pilots for the day, volunteering their time to provide the cadets this experience.

Cadets also received training in the proper technique to transport an injured person on a stretcher, how to form and operate a search line, flight line marshalling, fueling a plane, and pre-flight inspection of the Cessna 172p.

Senior members Capt. Richard Bush, Capt. Mark Knight, 2nd Lt. Lisa Folmar, Flight Officer Alex Adduci and 1st Lt. Jeff Lariscy attended the training event as well, some staying overnight with the cadets on the airport property as part of the training. The manager at Plantation Airpark, Hank Maierhoffer, was on hand for part of the activity and his cooperation was greatly appreciated.