WELCOME TO KY WING AE

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

AE MINI-CONFERENCE IS HISTORY

The Kentucky Wing Conference held 12 JULY 2008 was a success!  The Cadets and SM who joined us in Frankfort were certainly a motivated group looking to move forward in the CAP and move the KY Wing forward as well.  In particular, the AE sessions were well attended and a number of AEOs and AE interested members shared ideas with the Wing AE staff.  For many of us in the AE field, this was our first KY AE Mini-Conference and it was most enjoyable! 

NOTE THE CHANGE IN THE AE PAGE

You may not have caught the change to the AE page, but if you will look at the links at the top of this page you will note new listings that include (3) new sub pages all of which contains new information for you to access anytime.  The new listings include:

AE PICTURES – A page that will post AE pictures for all Wing members to see what is going on in the AE area.  Got pictures of that last outing or the trip to the aviation museum or of another recent AE activity?   Send it to us!

AE DOWNLOADS – This is page where we will post AE downloads for you to access.  Power Point Presentations, Regs, Forms, Papers, Documents and more!  Like the recently provided CD from the Wing Conference, this will become your AEO ON-LINE TOOLBOX.

AE ASTRONOMY – 2009 has been designated as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) and the KY Wing AE will be looking  to bring Cadets into a hands-on experience in the world of astronomy.  For more information and details on IYA2009 and our plans to support the national focus, check out the AE ASTRONOMY page!

PUTTING THE SPACE IN AEROSPACE

Among the ideas presented at the AE Mini-Conference was the 2009 KY Wing AE theme, “Putting the Space in Aerospace”.  This theme was highlighted by the introduction of the KY Wing’s new Portable Astronomical Observatory that will let all Wing Cadets and SM experience a fascinating first adventure in astronomy.  Packaged in a small chest, this observatory can easily be moved from unit to unit.  KY222 now has the Observatory and KY131 is signed up to get it next.  If you want it for your Cadets, drop your Wing AE Staff an email to get on the list.  For more info, go to the AE ASTRONOMY link at the top of this page.  

Before we leave the subject of astronomy as relates to the CAP, another area being considered for next year is the idea of establishing a KY Wing Jovian Radio Telescope that would be set up, directed and operated by our Cadets.  This   is a fascinating branch of amateur astronomy that allows one to actually hear real-time natural radio signals being generated by the planet Jupiter!  It would be a first for KY Wing Cadets if not a first for the CAP itself.  To participate, a very simple antenna, radio receiver, and recorder are all that is needed to receive and record such signals at 21 MHz.  The equipment also does a great job of hearing solar radio bursts from our nearest star, the Sun!   A NASA sponsored program called Radio Jove has allowed numerous schools, youth groups and individuals to participate in these studies. We would like to see the KY Wing Cadets represent the CAP and join in as well!  Check it all out at http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/. 

If after reading about Radio Jove you think you might be interested in helping Cadets to set up a Wing sponsored telescope at a site to be determined, drop the DAE a line to talk about it.  Someone with a background in Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is a natural for this as is someone with an amateur astronomy background.  Still, if you are interested but don’t fit in either category, the project is still easy to oversee.  As one with a background in both areas, your DAE would be glad to assist a willing SM in this most interesting and round breaking effort for the CAP and our Cadets.

KY WING AE 2009

It will soon be time to laying out the plans and programs for 2009.  If you have an idea, an interest, or a suggestion for an AE program or AE effort for the coming year, now is the time to suggest it.  Please take the time to drop us an email and give us an idea of what you would like to see for our AE program in 2009.  Among the ideas being considered are:

Amateur Radio Astronomy Telescope (RADIO JOVE)

Sun Spotter Solar Telescope (Wing)

Model Rocketry Program

Model Electric R/C Helicopter (Medium Size) with associated flight simulator (One per Cadet Squadron and interested Composite Squadron)

Model Powered Gliders / Unpowered Gliders

AE Books for Donations to Local School Libraries by Local Units

These are for starters and if AEOs express interest we will look to follow up on these, but if there is little or no interest then likely some of these will fall by the way side.  Let us hear from you with a simple email.

PASS THE TOOLBOX

One item offered to all AEOs attending the recent Wing Conference was a copy of the newly developed KY Wing AEO TOOLBOX.  This disc contains over 30 AE related items all on one CD to help any AEO working the field of AE.  Included on this CD are:

·         15 AE POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS

·         12 APPLICABLE AE REGULATIONS AND FORMS

·           9 OTHER AE INFO ITEMS/WEBSITES/HELPS

If you are an AEO or you are working in the AE area and did not get a copy of this CD, drop the DAE an email with your name, unit duty and mailing address.  We will mail these out at no charge until they are gone.  After that, most of the programs will likely be available on the AE DOWNLOAD page, but it will a one-at-a-time download rather than getting all of these on a light-scribed CD.

READ A BOOK

OK…Be sure and check the AE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH link at the top of this page. Each month we recommend a book on an AE related topic that you can recommend to your Cadets and Seniors for some interesting and informative reading.  These are generally inexpensive books that are easy to find. 

Remember... if you aren’t an AEO, but think that you might have an interest in AE, please consider making AE a specialty and joining us in this field.

The KY Wing AE staff is here to help support you in this vital area of the CAP.  Capt Brad Wallace of 050 Squadron is the Wing Internal AE Officer and Capt Michael Hughes of 082 Squadron is the Wing External AE Officer.

Our email addresses are available on the STAFF link of the Wing website.

Bob Patterson, Maj CAP