On March 8th, 2007, thirty-one cadets and five officers from Civil Air Patrol's Concord Composite Squadron, New Hampshire Wing, journeyed to the Skyventure vertical wind tunnel facility in Nashua, New Hampshire as part of an aerospace education field trip.

Following a brief training with Skyventure instructors Nick Scott-Tomlin and Brad Frefia in the classroom, each group of twelve officers and cadets donned equipment: elbow and knee pads, jumpsuit, goggles, earplugs and helmet. An insistent ringing bell and rotating beacon signaled the opening of the door to the flight chamber, and the start of what would prove to be an exhilarating half-hour for each group.

Lieutenant Colonel Darin Ninness, the Concord Squadron commander, is an experienced wind tunnel flyer and skydiver. He accompanied each group into the wind tunnel.

"One of the major components of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program is geared toward aerospace education. Cadets learn about aircraft, rockets, the space program, pretty much anything that flies is fair game," said Ninness. "About two weeks ago, our aerospace class covered the aerodynamics of parachutes and body flying, so the cadets were academically well prepared for this outing. That doesn't mean they knew exactly what they were in for!"

The trip was initially organized by First Lieutenant Tom Bowles, and received a boost in the form of a $500 donation from the Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center in Bedford, NH with the help of squadron health services officer Major Ronald Lamontagne of Concord. Even so, nearly 3 months of planning, organizing and coordinating went into this one short evening at the bodyflight facility in Nashua. Skyventure New Hampshire co-owners Rob and Laurie Greer were instrumental in scheduling the facility and helping the unit with arrangements.

The Skyventure wind tunnel's electric fans started spinning and the wind began rushing thru the octagonal flight chamber from below, sending a dull, throbbing rumble through the bench each sat on. The instructor leapt into the air stream to demonstrate both correct and incorrect form and procedures. Lt Col Ninness dove in, showing off his skills for the cadets about to fly and the spectators outside of the flight chamber alike.

Then one-by-one, each cadet or officer stood in the open doorway of the flight chamber, hands tight against the chest. As the instructor guided them into the 110mph air stream, he offered hand signals and nudges to help position their hands and legs in the onrushing air. When the instructor felt confident that the student could fly on their own, they were released to hover in the cushion of air. Most did hover, some spun, others flailed or bumped into the clear glass sides. A few bounced against the mesh trampoline floor just a few feet below, all part of the fun.

"Wow! I can't believe what a rush that is!" exclaimed cadet commander Cadet Second Lieutenant Anna Hullinger of Concord. "I didn't think that when I got in the tunnel they were going to let me go so high!"

Each member flew two one-minute turns in the wind tunnel, perfecting their body position and stability as they went. Oddly, it seemed that the best fliers were younger cadets and those with flying experience. Cadet Senior Airman Aaron DeAngelis, a CAP solo pilot from Concord, performed very well on his first minute, flying solo in good form near the end.

"I don't know if it was my solo flight experience that did it, but I found flying in the wind tunnel to be a very natural experience," said DeAngelis. "The sensation is overwhelming. There is no falling. There is no roller-coaster feeling. Just warm air rushing around you, pressing against your body."

Second Lieutenant Dave Belcher of Pembroke was all smiles following his first turn in the air.

"Oh! That is an absolute blast!" he shouted above the rumble of the fans and the roaring airflow, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

"I've seen a lot of people have fun in the tunnel," said Lt Col Ninness, "but Lt Belcher could not stop smiling! He was chuckling, actually belly laughing, the whole time he sat on the bench waiting for his second turn in the tunnel. This guy is hooked!"

All the cadets agreed that the wind tunnel was an excellent aerospace adventure and opportunity to physically experience aerodynamics instead of sitting in the classroom talking about it.

C/2d Lt Hullinger was more direct. "I never understood why people would jump out of a perfectly good airplane, till now. Going into the indoor wind tunnel was awesome. The feeling of wind under you lifting you up was amazing. Its something I plan on doing again in the future."

Lt Col Ninness was quick to point out the important experiential nature of this kind of an aerospace trip. "As a skydiver, I can talk about bodyflight or freefall aerodynamics all day long. But to actually experience it with your body in the air, the wind blasting you in the face, taking your breath away, well, that's an aerospace experience you just can't get in a classroom."