The 50 LCol. Barker VC Dauphin Air Cadet Squadron is part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets organization, which provides youth ages 12 to 18 with opportunities to grow into confident, capable and community-minded leaders, according to Dauphin commanding officer Marcus Paddock.

Across the country, Paddock added, the program includes sea, army and air cadets, each offering unique training experiences.

In Dauphin, cadets study aerospace and aviation principles, learn about aircraft systems and navigation and participate in flight simulation, aircrew survival training and familiarization flights in gliders and powered aircraft.

Late last year, local cadets had the opportunity to begin training on a flight simulator, thanks to the efforts of Richard Hillcoff.

“When I became the liaison (between the cadet squadron and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 20), I wanted to put the air back into air cadets. So I figured the best thing is to get a simulator,” he said.

Hillcoff trained with the local squadron himself, beginning when he was 12. He noted there has to be 18 air cadets to run a squadron.

“When I took over, they were going to shut the squadron down. There were two people who came to see me and convinced me. So I did some homework and became a captain in the reserves, so I could run the squadron,” he said, adding he ran the squadron from 1979 to 1984, before handing the reigns to someone else.

Hillcoff became the liaison between the cadets and the Legion, 3-1/2 years ago.

Hillcoff spearheaded some fund-raising campaigns to purchase the flight simulator for the local squadron.

After doing some research, Hillcoff decided on a simulator and made the purchase for $15,000.

“Everybody in the cadets, they get a chance, no matter who they are, from the very beginning through to the end,” he said.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.