Column: Flying training programs rebound after COVID interruption

Peter D. Lennon and Major Greg Curtis
·4 min read

The next generation of military aviators is training in the skies of New Hampshire and Maine, encouraged and supported by Granite State Flight #53, Order of Daedalians, an organization of former military aviators dedicated to inspiring future military and civilian aircrew through scholarships, flight training, teaching, and mentoring.

Flight #53 consists of about 70 former aviators who live in both states. From all the armed services, they have flown almost every type of American military aircraft.

Grounded by COVID in 2020, the Flight’s pilot training programs soared back into the New England skies last year.

Navy JROTC cadet Michael “Freddy” Ecker, 18, of Dover, wants to become a Navy Blue Angels fighter pilot. He now is studying aerospace engineering on a full four-year, Navy ROTC scholarship.
Navy JROTC cadet Michael “Freddy” Ecker, 18, of Dover, wants to become a Navy Blue Angels fighter pilot. He now is studying aerospace engineering on a full four-year, Navy ROTC scholarship.

Local Daedalians sponsored college Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and high school Junior ROTC cadets for Daedalians Flying Training and Civil Air Patrol National Flight Academies, taught cadets in the air and on the ground, flown cadet orientation flights, and instructed in a new Air Force initiative to develop a more diverse active-duty aviator corps.

The first student pilot to solo last year was Navy JROTC cadet Michael “Freddy” Ecker, 18, of Dover, whose goal is to become a Navy Blue Angels fighter pilot. He now is studying aerospace engineering on a full four-year, Navy ROTC scholarship.

The next to solo was Air Force ROTC cadet Major Isaac Abitabilo, a UNH senior majoring in neuroscience and behavior. He has been accepted for Air Force Combat Systems Officer training to become mission commander for weapon systems, electronic warfare, communications, or navigation.

Army JROTC cadet First Lt. Harrison Salisbury, 17, of Keene, a junior at Fall Mountain Regional High School in Langdon, soloed next. He intends to apply for a four-year Army ROTC scholarship and attend Norwich University in Vermont. Salisbury is interested in piloting both Army rotary-wing (helicopters) and fixed-wing aircraft.

He told Flight #53’s November gathering that the DFT program “changed my life immensely.”

As a previous Flight #53 scholarship winner, former Air Force JROTC cadet Colonel Spencer Lemelin of Rochester is one of only 100 cadets nationwide to win a new four-year, J-100 Air Force ROTC Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. He also was able finally to attend a COVID-delayed, highly selective Air Force JROTC Flight Academy last summer. He attends Colorado State University and wants to become an Air Force pilot.

Flight #53’s fourth Daedalians Flying Training student last year was Air Force JROTC cadet Clare DeVito, 16, of Auburn, who attends Pinkerton Academy in Derry. She intends to major in biomedical engineering in college and to become a pilot. Flying aircraft is a family tradition for Clare, as both parents are pilots.

Colonel Kevin “Jaws” Grady, USAF (Ret), of Hooksett, Flight #53’s captain, summed up the renewed flying programs by saying, “It was great to get cadets back in the air again, so we could motivate them to become military and civilian pilots.”

Granite State Flight #53, Order of Daedalians, is dedicated to inspiring future military and civilian aircrew through scholarships, flight training, teaching, and mentoring.
Granite State Flight #53, Order of Daedalians, is dedicated to inspiring future military and civilian aircrew through scholarships, flight training, teaching, and mentoring.

In addition to Daedalians Flying Training, Flight #53 regularly sponsors promising Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets to attend CAP National Flight Academies.

Last year, CAP cadet Major Andrew Gousse, 18, of Augusta, Maine, soloed at the National (Powered) Flight Academy New Jersey Wing.

Gousse has been accepted by the College of Southern Maryland partnership with the University of Maryland, where he intends to study electrical engineering. He plans to become a Navy flight test engineer.

The Flight also learned that another of its previous scholarship recipients, CAP cadet Master Sergeant Phoebe Ross, of Randolph, completed her Private Pilot Certificate last summer. She is a student at White Mountains Community College.

Flight Adjutant Major Greg Curtis, USAF (Ret) of Raymond, Maine, flew an orientation flight last summer for two Air Force JROTC cadets from Lewiston (Maine) High School.

Shortly after the flight, Cadet Richard Caron told the Lewiston School Board, “it was the most exciting experience I have ever had,” and that he was inspired to become a pilot. Cadet Teliah Viscone reported that she had added “pilot” to her career objective of becoming a teacher.

Flight #53’s Colonel Bill Moran, USAF (Ret.) of Gilford, last summer participated for the first time as a flight instructor in the new USAF/CAP Rated Preparatory Program (RPP).

The diversity oriented RPP is seen as a unique opportunity for young officers and airmen to gain and strengthen basic aviation skills. Air Force Rated career fields consist of pilots, combat systems officers, air battle managers, and remotely piloted aircraft pilots.

Finally, Flight #53 provided funding for at least three budding aviation enthusiasts at the Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored Aviation Career Education Academy at the Laconia Municipal Airport. These academies provide unique summer aviation education for high school, middle school, and elementary school students.

Peter D. Lennon of Exeter retired from the Federal government after a civilian career in national security programs. He is an Associate Member of Flight #53. Major Greg Curtis is a retired B-52 bomber pilot, a CAP Lieutenant Colonel, and the chief of staff for the Maine Wing CAP.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Column: Flying training programs rebound after COVID interruption