C/Capt. Urquiola Solos in Powered Flight Academy

Cadet Capt. Ian Urquiola of the San Marcos David Lee “Tex” Hill Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) soloed this week in the Shirley Martin Powered Flight Academy at A.L. Mangum Jr Airport in Nacogdoches, TX. The Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol hosted the Flight Academy where 15 CAP Cessna 172 aircraft and 15 CAP flight instructors spent a week teaching 18 CAP cadets the basics of flying. C/Capt. Urquiola soloed with 15 total flight hours with 9.6 hours logged at the academy. Lt. Col Mike Duc, C/Capt. Urquiola’s instructor, said, “Ian is a gifted and skilled pilot and there is no limit to where he can go with his aviation career. Ian finished number three in the class as a Distinguished Graduate.” 

The goal of the National Flight Academies is to give cadets an opportunity to fly for approximately 10 hours, weather and schedule permitting, and receive instruction from an FAA Certified Flight Instructor. Cadets are given appropriate ground and air instruction and opportunities to practice/perform assigned maneuvers. Additionally, cadets get the opportunity to work with aviation professionals, civilian and military, who share their expertise on how to prepare for a career as an aviator. For admission to the academy, cadets must meet a series of criteria and must also submit a resume’ and an essay on how they would apply the training in life and be interviewed by a panel, to test their commitment to aviation. Thanks to funding from the U.S. Air Force, CAP cadets can pursue their private pilot certificate through the organization’s new Cadet Wings program and continue their training in a future program, hoping to earn their instrument and instructor ratings.

C/Capt. Urquiola (left) is congratulated on his solo flight by his instructor Lt. Col Mike Duc.