Recent Activities
June 15th, 2009.. Twenty seven members of KY 39 toured the SDF International control tower and approach control facility. The squadron was divided into three groups and viewed the different facilities at rotating intervals. Among the many things we learned was the importance of silencing a nuisance ELT going off on the airport ramp. Controllers are required to listen to guard (121.5) at all times and a non emergency ELT signal makes their job difficult. KY 039 has tracked and silenced 4 ELT’s on SDF and Bowman ramps in the last two years…. Special thanks to new senior member Tom Boucher for arranging this tour.
February 16th.... Congratulations to our 14 year old Cadet Captain, Kienan McCusker who is now the youngest Cadet Captain in the Kentucky Wing!
January 21st.... Kudos to Lt. Colonel McGreal and Captain Crace for the first find of the year for KY 39. Colonel Mcgreal and Captain Crace were successful at locating a distress beacon at Bowman airport during the midnight hour on the 21st. The ELT came from a hangered aircraft that had just recieved ELT maintenence. The aircraft owner was notified and the offending ELT was turned off. This nuisance beacon was a distraction to air traffic control and could have potentially masked a real distress signal. Job well done!
December 27th... Ky 39 ground team members joined KYANG and two Lexington squadrons on the annual winter Sarex. The two ground teams independently pursued the practice ELT beacon placed in the wooded area surrounding Taylorsville lake. Each team used and trained newer cadets on the Elper and both teams succesfully found the target beacon. Because of the rough and hilly terrain the teams took over three hours to cover the the 1.3 mile distance to reach the target. Congratulation to new cadets Liebson and Hinkley who have completed their second mission and are weeks away from earning their ground team badges.
November 16th… The Louisville Composite Squadron assisted fellow Louisville residents through the Project Warm program. KY 39ers formed two teams and headed out Sunday afternoon to install plastic insulation over the drafty windows of elderly and disabled residences. In addition to the window work, the teams informed the residents of medication assistance programs and evaluated any other immediate needs that they may have. Representing the squadron were cadets Reynolds, McCusker, Urbancic and Katz . Lt. Reynolds and Captain Katz were team leaders with the assistance of SM Teresa Reynolds. Thanks also to Air Force Sergeant Robert Green and Ohio Wing CAP Cadet Bobby Green for their outstanding assistance.
On the weekend of October 25th-26th, the Louisville Composite Squadron joined forces with KYANG for a fall SAREX. Unfortunately, we were not able to go on Friday as planned, but we wasted no time Saturday and were able to get most everything done. On arrival, The Reynolds Family supplied everyone with a delicious hot breakfast to begin the day. Soon after we set up camp and began our training.
After dividing into ground teams, the cadets spent the morning going over some of the basic skills we would later be using in the field. After some great classes taught by some of our top cadets, everybody was ready to move on to some more exciting things. With the help of generous local pilot Joe Schroeder we were all able to practice using ground to air signals to communicate with aircraft. This is a valuable skill to know if we ever lose radio communications. While we were waiting for the flyby, the cadets all gathered in the field and enjoyed some lunch that would hold us over until the Reynolds feast that awaited us that night.
As the plane got nearer, the cadets all got into position, shooting signals with mirrors as well as signals we had created on the ground. The exercise went well as the pilot was able to read almost every one’s signal successfully. After the aircraft had read the signals, he flew out over the forest and circled around the ELT that had been placed out there. Using our compasses we all shot an azimuth to give us an idea of where to head. As the plane departed from the area all the cadets began our sortie to find the ELT using a combination of Elper, VHF radios, and GPS. Other ground teams also embarked on land nav missions as well. Overall the sorties went well with a few problems later in the day.
All troubles were forgotten though as we indulged in a wonderful meal once again prepared by the Reynolds. The rest of the night consisted of some laughs around the fire, some hot chocolate and a movie. The next morning was pretty relaxed as the cadets cleaned up the area before launching numerous rockets, although many fell victim to the depths of the forest.
In general the weekend was extremely successful and brought many of the cadets closer together. Thanks again to all of the adult staff and of course the Reynolds Family.
Submitted by Cadet Charlie Hill
On Saturday, October 11th, a few cadets went to the University of Louisville for a wing event at the planetarium. Many squadrons were involved in the trip. Our first show was the normal public show. Our last show was especially reserved for CAP. We learn many things including many different ways to find our direction using the stars. Over all the main objective was to put "space back in aerospace." Submitted by Cadet Wiil Reynolds