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Civil Air Patrol Assists with Winston-Salem Airshow

Lt Col Cheek delivers the safety briefing
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Lt Col Cheek delivers the safety briefing. Photo credit: Maj Frank Parker, CAP, Squadron Commander, Gastonia Composite Squadron (click image to view full size)
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CAP Cadets put Training into Action

By Maj Sherry Haskell, CAP
Group IV Public Affairs Officer

9/20/2015–Winston-Salem, NC–Cadets and Senior Members from the North Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol came out in droves 18 September – 20 September 2015 to support the annual Winston-Salem Airshow.  Lt Col Ron Cheek, Group IV Commander and Project Commander for the event, was appreciative of the support provided by CAP. “I would personally like to thank the approximately 170 members that donated their time and efforts to help maintain a safe environment for spectators to enjoy the show. Our cadets and senior members handled themselves with the utmost professionalism while patrolling the flight line, moving aircraft, and interacting with the public.” 

 
With approximately 170 members, this was by far the largest presence that CAP has ever had at the airshow in the 20 years they have been assisting. Many members arrived Friday evening, with males setting up camp at the Smith Reynolds Airfield and females billeting at the Winston-Salem Composite Squadron Headquarters.  Preparations were underway to get ready for the 30,000-40,000 spectators that would arrive over the weekend. 
 
Aside from providing crowd control for a variety of airplanes, cadets also assisted with hot air balloons and marked a trail through the spectators for the Budweiser Clydesdales to pull their wagon. When not performing their duties, cadets were able tour Tinker Belle, a C-46 Bomber and cargo plane used during World War II. 
 
With this year’s airshow behind them, Lt Col Cheek and Capt Jason Cheek, Assistant Project Commander for the event, are already hard at work preparing for next year’s show.