19-21 September 2008
MIDLAND, Texas -  Civil Air Patrol members from across Texas provided support for the FINA-CAF Airsho 2008 in Midland, Texas the weekend of 19-21 September.
 
Sixty cadets and 20 senior members , Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Georgetown, Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo provided personnel to ensure safety along the taxiway before, during, and after the show, access security at four remote gates, and recruiting for the Civil Air Patrol in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Museum.
 
A close-up and personal look at many of the finest World War II era aircraft was one of the benefits of working the Airsho. 2d Lt Artie Riggs, a member of the Midland Composite Squadron and Special Events coordinator for the CAF Air Power Museum lead CAP members on a tour of the CAF museum on Saturday evening. Sunday, the CAF provided cadets free access to the cockpit of 'Fifi', a B-29 undergoing major renovation at the museum in Midland.
 
The CAP has provided personnel support to the FINA-CAF Airsho for over 25 years with this year having the most ever CAP participants. Lt Col Corey Telschow, senior member in charge of the event, has quite a few year experience working the Airsho as a CAP member. 'I worked it as a member of the Midland Squadron in 1983 as a cadet airman!' commented Telschow.
 
Midland's Cadet Capt. Peter Sunderland, who served as cadet commander of the two day event, stated 'I've never seen this many cadets work so hard all day long for two days straight.' This was Cadet Sunderland's fourth year working the Airsho, his first as commander.
 
The highlights of the Airsho were an F-16 FALCON fly-by during the National Anthem,
the reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and an A-10 WARTHOG aerial demonstration.
Billeting for the two days was provided by the Texas National Guard who allowed the CAP use of their Readiness Center located near the CAF Museum.
 
Seniors and cadets from Abilene, Amarillo, Georgetown, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo gather in front of a P-40 WARHAWK.

 
C/Amn Fox, Lubbock, guards two T-28 TROJAN.
 

C/Amn Sarah Lewis, Georgetown, guards an AT-6 TEXAN
 

C/2d Lt Elyshba Kempf, Amarillo, relays information on the radio.

 
C/2d Lt Conley, Amarillo, C/Capt Peter Sunderland, Midland, Maj Richard Kolas, Lubbock, and SM Kyle Vernon enjoy a break during Airsho activities on Sunday.




Cadets enjoyed a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage before heading out to the flight line on Saturday morning.


 
Cadets stacked mattresses before returning them to the storage room on Sunday.
 

 
Enthusiasm is contagious...pass it on!
 

 

Article submitted by 1st Lt Johanna O. Augustine