In the last 100 years we have gone from gliders, to rotary aircraft, to jets.  We have gone from traveling just a few miles to traveling unlimited distances.  We have gone from moving a few miles per hour to flying at multiples of the speed of sound and beyond.  Early man could only dream of flight, today it is no longer a dream but an important part of our daily lives.

Red Wing Civil Air Patrol aerospace education programs provide an understanding and appreciation of aviation and space exploration in our world.  The AE program has an internal component providing aerospace education to the CAP membership.  The external program provides the general public with the aerospace education necessary to ensure the continuing development of aerospace supremacy.

The internal AE program provides basic aerospace knowledge to both cadet and officer members.  Cadets learn through hands-on exercises including rocket building, model airplanes, aviation map reading, hot air balloons, and more.  A comprehensive text “Aerospace: The Journey of Flight” is used to guide cadets through this learning process.  A highlight of the program is the orientation flights that cadets are eligible to participate in.  The thrill of actually taking the controls of a Cessna while in flight is a powerful experience!  Adult officer members study to earn the Charles E. Yeager Aerospace Education Award. 

The external program presents aerospace education topics to the general public.  Activities are taken to local schools, civic organizations, scout and 4-H groups, church groups and others.  Teachers learn of the extensive resources available for use in their classrooms.  Teachers can join CAP as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) to receive materials and resources.  Every year the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) meets to bring educators together to focus on the latest developments in aerospace education.

Red Wing Composite Squadron has been a leader in promoting the AE program through both the internal and external components of this mission.  In each of the last four years, we have completed the Aerospace Excellence Award program.  We traveled to the Air Force Thunderbirds air show.  We assisted with the air shows at the Red Wing Regional Airport.  We launched the model rockets we built.  We fly three RC model airplanes owned by the squadron.  It is easy to see that we have a very active program of learning and having fun with aerospace education!

 Want to join us?  Click here for info on how to join.