This page will keep you informed of upcoming events and recent happenings involving the squadron.  If you have anything you would like to have posted, please send it to the webmaster. 

2011 Squadron Dues are Now Due!

Annual squadron dues are due by the end of April.  If you are an existing member of the KY214 Squadron, you owe $30 to be a member in good standing.  Checks are the preferred method of payment.  They should be made out to the Bowman Field Senior Squadron, KY214.  Squadron Finance Officer, Lt. Gerald Kelley, is the person your dues should be given to. If you are a new member at KY214, your initial dues are $35. New members pay a bit more to offset the training materials they receive. Timely payment of dues is important because they are a major source of the money necessary for the squadron to operate. We appreciate your support. 

Captain Larry Austin is the New Squadron Safety Officer

Newly appointed squadron safety officer, Capt. Larry Austin conducted his first safety briefing at the regular squadron meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Larry's safety topic was the importance of using checklists while we are flying or on the ground. Several high profile accidents were discussed that were caused by improper use or lack of use of the checklist. This topic generated a lot of discussion amongst the pilots in attendance. Safety is CAP's number one emphasis so this topic is one of the most important for safety while conducting CAP missions. Thanks for stepping up Larry and providing a very good briefing!

Civil Air Patrol now has Separate Member and Non-Member Web Sites

To the surprise of many members of the United States Air Force Auxiliary, on January 7th, 2011, the National Headquarters of Civil Air Patrol, without any prior notice, changed the link to their website and added a new website for non-members. The new non-member site is very nice looking and well organized. It is not nearly as visually busy as the members site.  However, it might have been nice had they let us know this was coming. So, if you have a favorite or bookmark of the old NHQ site, you will need to update it. Or, just go to the KY214 Links page on this site. We will endeavor to keep all the links shown as up to date as possible. Semper Vigilans!!!

Cold Wx Looms, Learn to put away the aircraft correctly!

As cold weather looms, it is more important than ever to put the aircraft away properly. Three bladed propellers (as on all the C-182T models) should always be left in a Y configuration to keep water from building up and freezing in the prop spinner. Also this keeps a single blade from sticking up which can be easily hit by taxiing aircraft and allows birds a great vantage point for relieving themselves on the spinner. Also the nose bowl plugs should be inserted with the flags behind the prop so the pilot can see them, and the string holding them together should be on the outside of the lower propeller. Then if there is an accidental start, the string will not wrap around the propeller shaft. The plugs will be thrown clear of the prop. Another thing to do is to make sure you close the cabin air vent so that it doesn't get jammed in the open position by snow or ice. It should also be closed in the summer to prevent birds and insects from building their homes in the ventilation system. Lastly, make sure you wipe down the aircraft and clean the windshield for the next person that uses it. Bugs are a lot easier to get off when they are freshly smashed than when they have baked on the aircraft for a few days. When putting away the two bladed aircraft the propeller should be left parallel to the ground. This will keep birds from roosting on them and make them less likely to get "pranged" by a passing aircraft. If we can all pitch in and help, these tips will make our aircraft safer and more mission ready.

Kentucky Led the Nation in the Eradication of Marijuana in 2009

In the April 12th issue of the Sentinel-News (my hometown newspaper in Shelbyville) reports that Kentucky led the nation in the war on marijuana. Kentucky received the Most Outstanding Eradication Award from the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. Since one of the missions of CAP is counterdrug, Kentucky Wing CAP played a part in making this happen. Even though our mission is mostly communications relay and spotting we are part of the JSO Task Force that helps keep drugs off the streets in our hometowns across Kentucky and the nation.

2010 Squadron Dues are Now Due!

Annual squadron dues are due by the end of April.  If you are an existing member of the KY214 Squadron, you owe $30 to be a member in good standing.  Checks are the preferred method of payment.  They should be made out to the Bowman Field Senior Squadron, KY214.  New Squadron Finance Officer, Col. Ken Ulrich, will be more than happy to take your money.  If you are a new member at KY214, your initial dues are $35. New members pay a bit more to offset the training materials and patches they receive. Timely payment of dues is important because they are a major source of the money necessary for the squadron to operate.   So, don't mess around.  Get you check in ASAP!

Major Clark Gives Another Successful Form 91

On Friday June 1, 2007, Major Tom Clark, KY214 safety officer and Mission Pilot check pilot administered a CAP Form 91 check ride to Kentucky Wing Chief of State, Lt. Col Paul Osborne. As you can see by the big smile on Col. Osborne's face, he passed his check ride. The check ride was taken in CAP Flight 1528 or as she is known by the FAA, N640CP. Congratulations Col. Osborne and kudos to you Doc on helping qualify another mission pilot.

KY214 Wins Kentucky Wing Award

On Tuesday, February 20th at the regular KY214 squadron meeting, Kentucky Wing Director of Operations, Capt. Chris Nester presented squadron commander, Col. Stan Mullen with a plaque for the first annual Award for Superior Performance in Search and Rescue/Disaster Relief Execution for the squadron's outstanding performance at the recently conducted winter SAREX. The team that supported the winning mission was: Matt Creed, Wallace Hardin, Shawn Herron, (office/communications), John Casper (primary mission pilot), Robert Patterson (primary mission observer), Ted Critchfield (primary mission scanner), Ken Ulrich (back-up sortie mission pilot), Don Perkins (back-up mission observer), Joe Bryant (back-up sortie mission scanner). Congratulations to all those squadron members who routinely make it happen!
 

(Page revised on 23-May-11)