Cadets during the 2012 training in Littlefield, TX

Every year the US Air Force Academy choses ten young cadet pilots to fly on their cross country team. After a spring training in Littlefield, TX where the ambitious young guys and girls get ready for the summer season, they travel around the US to compete in different contests. Last year’scontest season started out in Moriarty at the Region 9’s, which was a first success followed by two even more successful contests in Utah and Nevada. This year also began with Moriarty’s Region 9 contest. Several USAFA teams flew their single and two seated Discuses and enjoyed some fast flights over New Mexico.

Beginning in 201, the initial training at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has been performed using new DG 1000 Club gliders. The Academy’s aerobatic team uses some special designed such ships. Only the USAFA racing team switches to Schempp-Hirth gliders, but they still know how to pilot a DG…

For this year’s Region 9 contest, beginning June, Jim Payne took the “famous DG 1001M” with the callsign “DT” (Dennis Tito) out to Moriarty to fly with / compete against not only the USAFA’s racing team. His association with the Air Force Academy goes back to 1971 when he soloed an Academy 2-33: “I also won my first soaring trophy for being on the first place team in the 1973 Rocky Mountain Soaring Contest (although in hindsight we were not that good … the other teams were worse). Over the years I have been an acro and cross country instructor for the Academy and have instructed at numerous camps and competitions.”

Jim Payne and Curtis Lackey enjoyed Day 4 in the cockpit of “DT”

This year his plan was to introduce his friend, co-pilot and Perlan Project partner Dennis Tito to contest flying at Moriarty. Dennis owns the well equipped two-seater, but at the last minute couldn’t go… Jim explains: “Since our May 29th flight to Palm Springs scored enough points to go to the top of the worldwide OLC there was no reason for me not to go to Moriarity anyway.” But the 2013 rules allow team flying at regional competitions, and so Jim decided to contact Mark Matticola, the Academy’s “coach Matty” who was honored as the SSA instructor of the year in 2011 and 2012. Jim suggested to practice team flying.

“On all four contest days I was involved in the Air Force team flying efforts, mainly through the sharing of tactical information on the radio. Since I had not expected to have an empty seat, we did not get permission from headquarters for the cadets to fly in a civilian sailplane with me. It took a couple of days for the cadets to receive the permission. On Day 1, I flew solo and on Day 2 I flew with Mark Mocho. Day 3 was with Cadet Drew Burns from the Class of 2014 which is a 40 year difference from my Class of 1974, and on Day 4 I could take up Cadet Curtis Lackey. The cadets are all instructors in the Academy’s DG -1000 Club (18-meter fixed gear) so their stick and rudder skills are outstanding. They liked the LX-8000 and the electric gear retraction. When flying together I focused on setting a good example and providing coaching.”

One of the new DG gliders at the Air Force Academy

Forty years ago no staff member at the Air Force Academy had any cross country experience. After having witnessed the 2012 Region 9 contest and meeting with the cadets, I can very well understand Jim’s statement: “It is great to see the improvements in equipment and coaching. Since senior officers to whom a flameout is a major emergency do not understand off airport landings, the team lives with some severe limitations which the cadets take in stride. Those with soaring experience that go to Air Force pilot training in general do awesome. For instance, four of the ten US Air Force pilots in my test pilot school class soared as cadets. Overall, the Academy’s team flying efforts (and 711’s brilliant task calling) helped the cadets finish the Moriarity contest with no retrieves.” Wow, the year before they had received the “honor citizenship of Estancia” for several landings on the small airfield south of Moriarty…  “The cadets learned much and, as one pundit noted, they sounded like fighter pilots on the radio. The Rules Committee deserves a commendation for allowing team flying. It greatly enhances the opportunity for real time mentoring and coaching!”

Last but not least and despite the extra-work load, Jim won the contest but: “The most intriguing question of the week was, ‘Where do I find someone like Mrs. Payne?’  … At the aero club at the Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland, of course.” Way to go, USAFA Cadets!