THUNDER BAY - Dozens of flights takeoff and land out of the Thunder Bay International Airport every day and for some passengers, flying has lost its allure. But for a group of cadets lifting off the ground this weekend, the experience was unlike any other.
“I’ve never flown in a single-engine plane before, only in jets,” said air cadet Dylan Fisk. “It’s a completely different experience. It feels like you’re a bird.”
On Saturday and Sunday, 70 air cadets from Thunder Bay, Atikokan, Marathon, and Geraldton received some firsthand flying experience with help from seasoned pilots, and some cadets even had the opportunity to take the controls.
“Everyone thinks it’s like steering a car, but it’s not,” Fisk said. “It’s just fine adjustments on a stick.”
Cadets were taken up on familiarization flights in Cessna and Bellanca Scout aircraft to learn the basics of flight and aircraft control. The 15 minute long flights took cadets on a short tour of the city around the airport.
“The pilots try to teach them the three movements of flight, pitch, roll, and yaw,” said Becca Sun, an officer cadet and flight instructor. “We let the cadets actually fly the aircraft, obviously with guidance, and it gives them the experience and feel for flying.”
Sun has been instructing for three years and received her glider license when she was 17-years-old. She said some cadets may be a little nervous before takeoff, but when they land, they are full of excitement.
“They are very impressed and very amazed,” she said. “A lot of them are very engaging and are happy they got to go flying and actually get to fly the aircraft.”
“When I did the glider course as a cadet, it is very overwhelming at the start, but at the same time, after a while, you get used to it and it’s very exciting,” Sun continued. “That excitement still happens today and it’s very much challenging, too, but in a good way.”
And while cadets learn the basics of flight, Sun said the lessons learned in the aircraft can actually translate to everyday life.
“When you learn to fly, even as the cadets learning the basics of flying in the back seat, you are still making decisions,” she said. “They are definitely using that and other aspects that may not necessarily be direct.”
The lessons being taught are important for any cadet interested in pursuing a career in the air force or as a pilot. But for instructors like Sun, it’s also about sharing a passion for flight.
“As much as we enjoy it, it’s very much passing on that knowledge and the love for flying for them to experience as well,” she said.
For 13-year-old Terrance Desrosiers, his first time in a single engine aircraft was a lot of fun and being able to talk directly to the pilot was a unique learning experience.
“For one, you can see everything,” he said. “Normally you can only see what is out your window, the little peephole you get on the side of the plane. This way, you can see everything. You can see exactly what the pilot sees.”
“On our flight, we got a little bit of turbulence, there were a couple of bumps, and I was able to directly talk to him and figure out what was going on in the aircraft to cause that,” Desrosiers continued.
Desrosiers and Fisk both said their time in the air was an amazing experience and they would recommend anyone giving it a try, whether you want to be a pilot, or just overcome your fears.
“I feel like there are a lot of people who think it is a scary experience but it’s not,” Fisk said. “It’s really, almost eye opening. You get to see the world from a whole new perspective. I would recommend it.”
“It’s an experience that you need if you want to fly,” Desrosiers added. “Everyone is going to start on a plane like that. You’re not going to get your pilots license and hop into a Boeing 747 and fly 1,000 people. It’s fun to know what it’s like to start out.”
