The general public is invited to the Civil Air Patrol West Oahu Squadron's Anniversary Open House celebration on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Pacific Aerospace Training Center, Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei at 91-1259 Midway Road.

Free orientation rides in general aviation aircraft will be offered to youth ages 8 to 17 by the Honolulu Chapter of the Young Eagles organization (www.youngeagles.org). A parent or guardian must be present and sign a flight release.

A variety of aviation related organizations will be there with static aircraft displays and information including Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department and Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point. Honolulu Community College Commercial Aviation Program (pilots) and Aviation Maintenance program (mechanics/electronics) will be available to answer questions.

Featured speaker will be CAP Lt.Col James McFadden. He is a staff member of the Pennsylvania Wing's Hawk Mountain Ranger Training School and former Parkersburg Composite Squadron Commander. Hawk Mountain Ranger School is the longest running Search and Rescue school in the US. It's a physically demanding and academically challenging nine day course started in response to a need for ground support of air search missions. More than 50 years old, the school takes place a 77-acre wilderness area where field leadership and survival training is taught in addition to search and rescue.

Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered non-profit, volunteer organization established to provide emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education. CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and works closely with the state Civil Defense and the federal Department of Homeland Security.