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Two area air cadets earn their ‘wings’
Wednesday August 20 2008
 
 First solo. It’s a defining event in the training of a fledgling pilot and for two area teen air cadets it’s a dream come true.
Kevin Robbie, a 17-year-old  Georgetown resident recently took a major step to becoming a fully qualified private pilot by successfully maneuvering his Diamond DA20 around the circuit of London Airport alone.
Chris Legge, 18, of Rockwood managed the same feat in his Cessna 172 around the circuit of Oshawa Airport.
First solo, as the phrase implies, is the first time a candidate controls the aircraft without an instructor aboard.
Before taking this step Robbie first had to demonstrate competency in basic piloting skills to his flight instructor, Alex Hamilton  of Empire Aviation.
“I want to pursue a career in aviation and this is the opportunity of a lifetime when it comes to getting that started,” said Robbie. But that’s hardly the end of the training regimen. It’s really just week two of a seven-week program.
“Flying the aircraft by myself for the first time was an absolute thrill but there’s a lot more work ahead.” he added.
Robbie has been a member of Georgetown’s 756 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron for five years and has risen to the rank of Flight Sergeant. This past winter, he applied for an Air Cadet League of Canada Power Pilot Scholarship, one of the most sought-after advanced specialty training courses in Canada. Of the 150 Air Cadets in Ontario who applied, only 80 were selected for this award.
Legge has been a member of Rockwood’s No. 197 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron for six years. He has risen to the rank of Warrant Officer Second Class and worked with flight instructor Alex Harflett.
“It (becoming a pilot) has been my goal throughout my entire cadet career,” said Legge. “It is an amazing opportunity and not many people my age are given this type of an opportunity. Plus I love flying”.
The flying scholarship candidates trained at one of the four training centres in Oshawa, London and two in Breslau (Kitchener-Waterloo) this year. The cadets accumulated an average of 45-50 hours flying time in qualifying for their Transport Canada Private Pilot Licence and coveted Royal Canadian Air Cadet “wings” qualification badge.
Sponsored in partnership between the Canadian Forces and the Air Cadet League of Canada, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets welcomes young people aged 12-18 to its community-based youth program. If you know someone who is interested in aviation and is between 12 and 19 years of age, check out www.cadets.ca for more information about the Air Cadet program.