The Auxiliary Beacon
Page 7 of 8.
Because who else can fly 3,000 hours, spot a pickup truck, and still make it home for dinner? Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force’s most dedicated volunteer squadron of science nerds, aviation buffs, and retirees…
AKA: The Great Glider Grounding of 2025 In a move that shocked at least 17 soaring enthusiasts and confused several cadets who just wanted to fly without an engine, Civil Air Patrol has hit the brakes—er,…
Civic Leadership Academy: Because Nothing Says ‘Vacation’ Like Seminars and C-SPAN Twenty of Civil Air Patrol’s most promising cadets descended upon Washington, D.C., this February for a week of handshakes, policy jargon, and PowerPoints at CAP’s…
When it rains, it pours... then CAP shows up with spreadsheets and Cessnas In mid-February, Mother Nature reminded Appalachia that she's still very much in charge, delivering a combo platter of heavy rain, snowmelt, and emotional…
Also brings enough CAP credentials to fill a hangar In a dramatic leadership shift that may or may not involve a secret handshake and a patch ceremony, Col. Brett Dolnick — Washington Wing commander, cyber defense…
Early in the week, the Florida Wing's Homestead Hair Salon Cadet Squadron group texts caught fire, and for once, it wasn’t because someone forgot to silence their phone during naptime. The extraordinary news: The Fashionista-in-Chief would…
In an unprecedented move that no one saw coming—except perhaps Col. Curtis Boehmer himself—our dear Boehmer has added yet another lavish title to his already illustrious Civil Air Patrol (CAP) resume. Yes, folks, gasp in disbelief…
A Cyber-Quest Odyssey: Return of the Cadet Overlords In the latest chapter of the epic CyberPatriot saga, where young minds valiantly attempt to conquer the perilous realm of virtual networks, two teams of the illustrious Civil…
The Legendary T-41 Trainer Meet the mighty T-41 trainer — because who wouldn’t want a 139 mph, 26 feet 11 inches "rocket", ready to take on the vast blue yonder! Yes, it’s speedy, thrilling, and perfect…
It’s that time of year again, folks! Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has been summoned for their 24th annual performance in the role of “airspace guardians,” as they pretend-prepare with the U.S. Air Force in the dramatic…
In a shocking revelation that's left both parents and underachievers quaking in their boots, Cadet Maj. Brock Buak of the California Wing’s Eugene L. Carnahan Cadet Squadron 85 has somehow managed to wrangle appointments to four…
In an ambitious attempt to overcomplicate simplicity, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has unleashed a grandiose yearlong initiative, whimsically dubbed the “Year of Ownership.” The plan aims to transform the organization's culture from mere functionality to…
Once upon a mid-flight crisis, Capt. Kerry Kaplan embarked on her illustrious journey with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). A tale peppered with curious misadventures, much akin to her whirlwind life. Despite neither she nor her…
Capacity: boasts an exclusive three-seater arrangement \ Length: a towering 25 feet 11 inches of vintage beauty \ Maximum speed: a blistering 100 mph – faster than your granny's knitting speed! \ Cruise speed: a casual…
In a thrilling plot twist more riveting than your grandma's Sunday crossword, the Civil Air Patrol Geospatial Program’s Damage Assessment Team has joined forces with the mighty Federal Emergency Management Agency. Together, they crusade through mountains…
In the latest telecast from the skies, Captain Deborah Hecker – yes, the one with a cape instead of a pilot's uniform – has ascended to yet another celestial realm. She's landed on the Civil Air…
In the grand tradition of aviation's movers and shakers, Igor Sikorsky once declared, "The work of the individual still remains the spark that moves mankind forward." Enter Frank Blazich, the human embodiment of this spark but…
It was a grand day for those enamored with the glamorous world of aviation history, as Civil Air Patrol cadets, Junior ROTC participants, and students with their heads perpetually in the clouds gathered around at the…
Theodore Roosevelt once sagely advised that it’s not the critics in the bleachers—those enthusiastic experts on doing absolutely nothing—that count, but rather the trench warriors on the field, sporting band-aids for the boo-boos they bravely earned.…
In a dazzling display of title inflation, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) decided that the only way to soar higher was by officially introducing a “chief people officer,” hiring none other than Danford "Dan the Man" Kern.…
