Hirohana Falls

Saturday Rocket Launch

The previous Thursday was a regular old CAP meeting...except for a little twist. We all arrived, and formed up and signed in. After formation, we set up two tables in the middle of the room, unknowing of what was happening next. The commander brought out a bunch of plastic bags with model rockets in them. We all built and designed our rockets, and then headed home.

Then on Saturday, we all met up at the CAP building to carpool over to the Tama River together. After we got to the Tama River, we set up all the necessary equipment and found the right spot to launch the rockets. We all did rock paper scissors on who would go first. We all got to launch our rockets twice, despite the fact that two rockets ended up downstream (recovered by C/MSgt McKinley). No one got sunburned or eaten alive by mosquitoes so we all had a fun day launching rockets at the Tama River. 

(THIS WAS MY ROCKET, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY FRIEND MCKINLEY GOT THIS PHOTO) (CADET MCKINLEY IS THE CADET 3 PHOTOS UP)

Tama Zoo

Saiko Iyashio-Sato Village & Chureito Pagoda

We had a lot of fun at the village and the pagoda. We got to dress up like ninjas and samurais. We're now famous in that part of Japan, because every five minutes a crowd of Japanese people were asking to take pictures with us. We had to run inside a store before the paparazzi found us and started taking pictures. We had a good time taking pictures and looking at Mt. Fuji. When we left the house, it was dark black clouds, and rain. But about half and hour later, the clouds were completely gone and Mt. Fuji was clear as day. It was clear at the village, but not at the pagoda. That's why I drew in where Mt. Fuji would be...LOL. Go check out my vlog on YouTube to see more details about the village and the pagoda. (ALL PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITH MY GO PRO HERO PLUS).

My Vlog about the village and the pagoda

I Can See the Whole Runway From Up Here...

Shortly after I got promoted and my Mom and Dad went home, they told us that they had a surprise for us. Every week the commander sends out and email, telling us what we are going to do at the meeting that night. The schedule said we would go, I would be promoted, then we would take a break, then we would do some drill. The main thing that night was going to be an aerospace lesson from a Lt Col that came into town. Turns out he got stuck doing something at the last minute, so he had to cancel. In the mean time, Lt Atchley had to find something else to do that night. At the last minute he was able to get us all a tour of the control tower. I have never been in a control tower before, and this was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my two years of being a cadet. First we got to go in the basement part of the control tower, where they control all the radar. They have radar that can see planes as far as sixty miles away. Up top they can only see planes coming from about nine or ten miles away. Another huge surprise, that no one else knew, but the people at the controls, was that there was a C 130 coming in. I wasn't that surprised because I've seen C 130's land there all day every day. The catch was that the C 130 was actually going to drop parachuters out the back onto the runway. Now that was cool! I haven't seen that before and it was cool when they flew over. We waited about thirty minutes for them, but it was totally worth it. I got a video of all the people jumping out the back. Here's the video I got of the people jumping out the back.

The Video With the Parachuters

Master Sergeant Amport

Last night was so fun, and I didn't expect any of the things that happened. When we first arrived, we were the first ones there so we had to wait on the other cadets before starting with the activities. Once everyone else arrived, they formed us up and I was called to the front. The guy on the right is Lt Atchley he is one of the senior members in our squadron. Lt Atchley asked me if I wanted anyone special to pin on my ranks, I said I wanted my Dad to put them on. He did, and then I turned to Lt Atchley and took the ribbon for my ribbon rack. Then I saluted him and fell back into the flight. Now I am officially a cadet Master Sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol. A lot more of the cadets will be looking up to me for leadership advice, tips, and most of all they will be expecting me to be more responsible with the rank I now have. And I can assure you all that I certainly will.

Orientation Flight For Civil Air Patrol