North Central Region is saddened to learn of the passing of Col. Dean Vikan, USAF (Ret.) on April 17, 2026, at the age of 87. He was a founding member of Minnesota Wing's Crookston Composite Squadron and current member of Lakes Area Composite Squadron when he passed. Col. Vikan had an exceptional...
On 18 April, 25 cadets from 10 squadrons across Minnesota Wing gathered for a STEM Day. Cadets designed and tested heat shields for Mars landers, discovered and discussed the layers of the atmosphere, and created and flew hovercrafts. They also explored coding, engineering, and electricity with hands on kits. Our CAP/USAF representative, Lt....
Excitement was in the air recently as Rapid Valley Elementary STEM Lab teacher Jennifer Backhaus joined Maj. Jon Becker of South Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol’s Pierre Composite Squadron for a memorable flight over her school as part of CAP’s Teacher Orientation Program (TOP). Students were cheering her on as...
Recently, members of Iowa Wing's Black Hawk County Composite Squadron provided aerospace education equipment and materials for the Northeast Iowa Regional STEM Festival with the support of Wisconsin Wing's Wyalusing Composite Squadron!
Sixteen Missouri Wing members from six different units across the state recently met at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City, MO, for a day of small unmanned aerial system (sUAS or drone) training led by Lt. Col. Keith Harter, commander of the St. Francois Senior Flight. The other five units represented included:...
Minnesota Wing's 130th Composite Squadron is happy to share that they have a new solo pilot. Cadet Capt. Danica Luedtke completed her first solo on a beautiful day at Airlake Airport in Lakeville under the supervision of Maj. Al Alwin. C/Capt. Luedtke is excited to get into cross country flights and building proficiency...
Kansas Wing held its first-quarter Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) on March 29, 2026, in Topeka, bringing together 50 CAP members: 31 senior members and 19 cadets, representing nine of the Wing's 11 squadrons. Throughout the day, Kansas Wing members executed eight ground sorties and four air sorties, supported by five aircrafts and...
Members of North Dakota Wing's Red River Valley Composite Squadron traveled to Cooperstown, ND, to visit the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Control Facility along with a stop at the November-33 Missile Silo. They got a tour of the facility and learned about the history of the site!
Taking advantage of nice weather, cadets of Missouri Wing's Excelsior Springs Composite Squadron recently launched their rockets! And members from Missouri Wing's Platte Valley Composite Squadron and Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron combined forces for a model rocket launch day at the Warrensburg Area Rocket Pad (WARP9). Cadets and adult members launched Alpha...
It was a busy day at the Dickinson airport, as eight North Dakota Wing Roughrider Composite Squadron cadets received orientation rides in CAP aircraft, with 6 of them receiving their first. Congratulations to all and thank you to Raul Casas-Dolz and Lt. Col. Ray Thompson for providing the flights! (Photo credit to...
