Air cadets receive glider wings
Members of 602 McCurdy squadron reach milestone
Two cadets from 602 McCurdy Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron have received a distinction the squadron hasn’t received in more than a decade.
Logan Campbell and Trent Olsen were presented with their glider wings last month in Debert.
It’s the first time in more than 15 years that the squadron has had a pilot.
Olsen, 17, from Millville, said he was thrilled with the ceremony after working hard to achieve the wings.
“It was a very accomplishing feeling. I felt very proud to be there and very excited at the same time,” said Olsen.
To receive their wings, the two cadets had to attend a ground school during the regular training year for approximately eight Saturdays, write an essay, take part in an interview and complete an exam.
The two then spent their summer with 43 other cadets from across the Maritimes and Ontario where the cadets endured six weeks of intense training. They also had to pass a Transport Canada written exam and a flight test.
Olsen said that being in the air in the gliders take a lot of concentration, but it is exciting.
“It’s basically like you’re always falling, but it’s controlled and it’s just a great experience. You go up to the altitude and once you release from that rope you’re basically on a time limit,” said Olsen. “You have to control your movements so you can make sure you have enough space to get down safely.”
Theresa Olsen, commanding officer of 602 McCurdy Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron and Trent’s mother, said she was proud of the accomplishment and it also means a lot to the squadron.
“It really means a lot, when you’re promoting the air cadet program you really want to have a pilot,” she said. “That’s the main goal of being an air cadet is being a pilot or at least to focus on the air side of the program.”
Trent Olsen said he hopes to fly bigger and faster planes in the future.
“I’m hoping right now to join the air force when I’m older and become a Hercules pilot or an Aurora pilot, depending which path I go down, but that’s the goal now,” he said.