Boro Civil Air Patrol cadets take flight at iFLY Jacksonville

Field trip combines aerospace education with indoor skydiving

A group from the Civil Air Patrol’s Statesboro Composite Squadron went on a field trip to iFLY Jacksonville recently for aerospace lessons and indoor sky diving. In the group were adult volunteers Roger Flannery, Willis McVay, Casey Threatt and JoEllen Flannnery, and cadets Mason Boswell, Allyson Gabriel, Brooklyn Cornelius, Chloe Larson, Ethen Flores, Jude Flores, Justin Adojutelegan, Laylin Owens, Stray Morgan, Willilam Duncan, Ashly Lopez, Cash Threatte, Jackson Wright, Kkonner Robinson and Reed Propps. (Photo courtesy Statesboro Civil Air Patrol)

CAP group — A group from the Civil Air Patrol’s Statesboro Composite Squadron went on a field trip to iFLY Jacksonville recently for aerospace lessons and indoor sky diving. In the group were adult volunteers Roger Flannery, Willis McVay, Casey Threatt and JoEllen Flannnery, and cadets Mason Boswell, Allyson Gabriel, Brooklyn Cornelius, Chloe Larson, Ethen Flores, Jude Flores, Justin Adojutelegan, Laylin Owens, Stray Morgan, Willilam Duncan, Ashly Lopez, Cash Threatte, Jackson Wright, Kkonner Robinson and Reed Propps. (Photo courtesy Statesboro Civil Air Patrol)

Members of the Civil Air Patrol’s Statesboro Composite Squadron experienced the thrill of flight in a whole new way during a field trip to iFLY Jacksonville March 10.

A total of 19 cadets and senior members participated in the event, which combined aerospace education with hands-on experience in indoor skydiving. The day began with an engaging STEM lesson covering the principles of aerodynamics, airflow and terminal velocity. Cadets explored how the forces affect both real-world aviation and the body’s movement in free fall.

Following the lesson, each participant suited up for two individual flight sessions inside iFLY’s state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. With expert guidance from instructors, cadets applied what they had learned as they controlled their body positions to achieve stable flight.

CAP Jude Flores — Statesboro Composite Squadron cadet Jude Flores flashes a smile while getting ready for his turn at indoor skydiving inside the iFly Jacksonville simulators during a March 10 field trip. (Photo courtesy Statesboro Civil Air Patrol)

“This was an incredible opportunity to connect aerospace education with real-world application,” said Capt. JoEllen Flannery, Squadron Commander. “Cadets not only learned the science behind flight but also got to experience it firsthand in a safe, controlled environment.”

The event was part of CAP’s ongoing mission to inspire youth through aerospace education, leadership training and hands-on experiences.

CAP simulator - Larson — Civil Air Patrol Statesboro Composite Squadron cadet Chloe Larson thoroughly enjoys her indoor skydiving experience in the iFly Jacksonville simulators during a March 10 field trip. (Photo courtesy Statesboro Civil Air Patrol)

Flannery said, “the Statesboro Composite Squadron continues to seek out innovative ways to engage cadets in aviation-related activities and STEM learning.”

For more information about the Civil Air Patrol and the Statesboro Composite Squadron, visit Statesboro.cap.gov or email us at webmaster@statesboro.cap.gov.

About Civil Air Patrol

Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training and education.

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