155 Borden Gray GC 
Oct 14, 2012 NEWS RELEASE 155 BORDEN GRAY AIR CADET SQUADRON ************************* MR 001 Wings Parade Soaring at 3000 feet in a glider by yourself with just the wind noises and the freedom to fly through the sky on wind currents.
Soaring at 3000 feet in a glider by yourself with just the wind noises and the freedom to fly through the sky on wind currents.
That is what 16-year old Cadet Sergeant (Sgt.) Max Warren got to do this past summer while earning his private glider pilot license.
On Wednesday night at the 155 Borden Gray Air Cadet Squadron Wings Parade he received his glider pilot wings.
This was a culmination of three months of one night a week ground school locally then applying for the glider flying summer program, more ground school once selected.
Then 24 flights with an instructor who was teaching and then while the student flew was asking questions and reminding about procedures.
Finally it was time to take the controls for the first solo flight. Cadet Sgt. Warren said “being by myself did not sink in on the first two solo flights as I was concentrating on what I had to do”. “It was not until the third flight that I realized I was all by myself and I can do what I want to do but at the same time I was responsible for my own life”.” At 3000 feet up it is hard to explain, there is just the air and you are controlling yourself”.
During this annual Wings Parade not only are pilot wings presented but other cadet who have completed their summer training are recognized for their two, three or six week courses.
Some of these courses were Air Craft Maintenance, Drill and Ceremonial, Survival Training to mention a few.
Several cadets who have worked hard during local training and at summer training received there promotions.
Cadet Sgt. Warren was promoted to Flight Sgt.
Also attending the Wings Parade as the Inspecting Officer was Bryan Hayes MP for Sault Ste Marie.
One of Mr Hayes’s duties was to inspect the cadets on the parade.
He stopped to talk to each one and ask a couple of questions.
In Mr Hayes’s address to the cadets he made mention of his family moving around Canada and Europe as his Dad was in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 32 years.
For a time as a teenager he was an Air Cadet, “while we were living in Chatham. I enjoyed the experience very much, with the fondest memory being in the glass nose of an Argus as we flew around Chatham and Newcastle and along the Miramichi River. Equally memorable was having a few flights on the Griffon helicopter”.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to all cadets who received awards and promotions,” said Hayes. “They should be very proud of themselves, as I know how proud I am of them. I would also like to extend congratulations on behalf of the Federal Government to Cadet Max Warren on the completion of his Private Gliders License.”
Cadet Sgt Warren also received two bursaries totalling $700 to further his flight training.
A $500 bursary comes from Al Taylor a past 155 Air Cadet who received his power pilot wings through Air Cadets.
The second bursary in the amount of $200 was donated by John Zorzi who was also a past Air Cadet of 155 Air Cadet Squadron has had two daughters and a son go through the air cadet program.
One of his daughters received her private glider and power pilot license through Air Cadets. Mr Zorzi’s Grandson Cadet Warrant Officer 2nd Class Nick Desanto also a member of 155 Squadron and just aging out at the age of 19.
He earned his private glider and power pilots wings while with the 155. Mr Zorzi commented “the funds help cover some costs of more flight training and it was a way of giving back to the cadet program”.
“I meet so many teens in their later years that want to go flying or become pilots and then I tell them about air cadets, what cadet has given me and they then wish they had joined”, said Cadet Sgt. Warren. If you are between 12 to 18 and would like to get more information about joining the 155 Air Cadets you can visit us at the Pine Street Armoury on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 pm, call 705-949-6808 or visit the website
If you would like to see Air Cadets gliding check out this link of air cadets at the Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Center, Penhold Alberta,