Glider Pilot Course Cadet Josh Ralphs from 676 Kittyhawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Sidney, is working for his glider pilot licence this summer through the Cadet program.

Ralphs is a student at Comox Cadet Flying Training Centre and comes from a long line of cadet involvement with the Kittyhawk Squadron.

Ralphs, 16, has been involved with the Air Cadet program for four years. He joined the same squadron as his older brother, Nathaniel, because he always wanted to fly. Their grandfather, Jack Ralphs, was commanding officer of the Squadron and their father, Bruce, and Uncle John were cadets there 40 years ago. Jack Ralphs spent his summers working on the gliding program in Nanaimo where cadets earned their glider pilot licence and his son John flew for the program B次元官网网址� the same program that is now in Comox.

Bruce Ralphs was at Victoria Airport one day with his two boys and they saw the recruiting sign for 676 Squadron and went to look at the cadetsB次元官网网址� building.

B次元官网网址淭he door was open,B次元官网网址� says Bruce. B次元官网网址淓verything looked exactly the same as it did forty years ago. There was the parade square where I used to ride my bike on weekends when Dad was working.B次元官网网址�

His eldest son joined the cadet squadron followed by Josh when he was old enough. Everything has gone full circle. Bruce now works as a tow plane pilot for the gliding program, just as his father did. Nathaniel, his eldest son, is now a gliding instructor and he took the opportunity to work in Debert, Nova Scotia for the cadet gliding program. He is teaching cadets to fly a glider.

Josh, BruceB次元官网网址檚 youngest son, is now working hard to become a glider pilot and loving the experience.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 neat,B次元官网网址� he smiled. B次元官网网址淎 plane does not look as if it should fly B次元官网网址� but it does. I love gliding up there.B次元官网网址�

This is not the first opportunity he has had with Air Cadets, he went of a trip to Edmonton by rail with the Squadron and he has been involved with band, range, biathlon, drill team and orienteering.

JoshB次元官网网址檚 Mom is the only person who is not involved with the program this summer and stays at home in Victoria as her Husband and sons take to the skies.

More than 3,000 Sea, Army and Air Cadets are participating in summer training activities across B.C. this summer. Other cadets have had the opportunity to travel across the country and even overseas. To find out more about the Cadet Program visit www.cadets.ca.

B次元官网网址� Submitted by Captain Angela Sargent