Pre-solo

[Flying Pig]

OK, I was exploring the regs and came across the Pre-Solo wings.

These are a new development since I was last in as a member and all I can say is.......  You GOTTA be kidding me!

[Jolt]

I wear them, sir.  What's the big deal?  It's simply a symbol and how it's interpreted is up to each individual.  If they mean nothing, then that's fine.

[Rangersigo]

I actually think it is a good idea - especially for cardets who are flying to show their progress.  Getting a PP license can take some time, especially if you are waiting for a birthday.

[Major Lord]

Being a ground team guy has given me a bad attitude about flying in private aircraft..Give me big metal birds wih lots of engines! Since I am afraid to fly tiny planes, maybe they could make some "Chicken Wings" for us Cessnaphobes?

Capt. Lord

[Monty]

OK, I was exploring the regs and came across the Pre-Solo wings.

These are a new development since I was last in as a member and all I can say is.......  You GOTTA be kidding me!

It's a whole different world.....folks get parties for "graduating" out of Jr. High School into High School these days (wouldn't have believed it until I got an invitation to attend a lad's.)

[Flying Pig]

Its not a big deal at all.  Thats the point.  They already have solo wings.  Now we need Pre solo wings?  How about wings for passing your written exam then?

[Monty]

Its not a big deal at all.  Thats the point.  They already have solo wings.  Now we need Pre solo wings?  How about wings for passing your written exam then?

Okay, if you insist.   

[LtCol White]

Its not a big deal at all.  Thats the point.  They already have solo wings.  Now we need Pre solo wings?  How about wings for passing your written exam then?

Those are the "Winged Pencil" but Vanguard doesn't have a photo available yet. 

[BillB]

Someone delete this thread before Tedda sees it and designs the chicken wings

[Cmdbuddy]

I believe the Pre-Solo wings were developed because there is a regulation saying that first timers at a flight encampment cannot solo.  So, you had to give the cadets something after they've spent $850 and were told they couldn't solo... but they could conduct a flight from takeoff to landing with the instructor in the plane. 

Personally, I think they are ridiculous.  People say that just because they passed a pre-solo you could solo, but that's not correct.  Flying without your instructor is completely different than flying with your instructor not doing anything... at least they could do something if something bad happened.

[jimmydeanno]

I believe the Pre-Solo wings were developed because there is a regulation saying that first timers at a flight encampment cannot solo.  So, you had to give the cadets something after they've spent $850 and were told they couldn't solo... but they could conduct a flight from takeoff to landing with the instructor in the plane. 

Or rather they met all the 'solo' requirements except for age...

[Flying Pig]

They meet all the requirements.....except for the requirements.  I dont know. As a former cadet who wore solo wings myself, it seems a little much.  Oh well.  It seems now that there has to be a badge, pin or medal for everything and every activity.

[carnold1836]

They meet all the requirements.....except for the requirements.  I dont know. As a former cadet who wore solo wings myself, it seems a little much.  Oh well.  It seems now that there has to be a badge, pin or medal for everything and every activity.

Welcome to the U.S. Boy Scouts of Air Patrol. 

[Rangersigo]

Not sure why this bothers anyone.  I can wear my uniform on 4 or 5 different days and never wear the same badge twice.  Why is it even a big deal, if someone wants to buy and wear it, it seems like it is esprit.  Should I feel the same way about the effort I went through to receive mine comparred to someone who earns a GT badge over two weekends?

[DrJbdm]

the pre-solo wings where developed in order to be more politically correct. When the cadets go to the flight academy and they couldn't earn the right to solo or the weather was bad or for whatever the reason may be, CAP didn't want them feeling left out or feeling like they weren't good enough to solo. So CAP came out with a pair of pre-solo wings that are almost identical to solo wings, you can't tell the difference. it's supposed to make them feel good about themselves.

  I think it's ridicules, we didn't need that back when i was a cadet, back then solo wings actually meant something. If they are going to keep pre-solo wings then they need to be very distinctive from solo wings, just as I believe observer wings need to be distinctive from Pilot wings.

[Eagle400]

I think it's ridicules, we didn't need that back when i was a cadet, back then solo wings actually meant something. If they are going to keep pre-solo wings then they need to be very distinctive from solo wings, just as I believe observer wings need to be distinctive from Pilot wings.

Maybe what CAP could do is this:

Award the (now) solo wings to those who have "pre-soloed", and add a star above the solo wings for those who have soloed. 

This is slightly similar to what AFROTC does.  AFROTC awards their solo wings to cadets who have either soloed, earned a pilot slot, or both.  And those cadets who have a pilot slot and earned their wings prior to being categorized as a pilot get a star above their wings. 

[Jolt]

If it makes it any better for everyone who opposes the wings, there's no version of the pre-solo wings for the BDU or flight suit.

[A.Member]

...Pre-Solo wings... You GOTTA be kidding me!

I agree 100%!  They should be axed without further discussion.  To be honest, I'm not even that hip on the idea of "solo wings" but at least there's a bit of an argument to be made there.  As was stated earlier, "pre-solo" wings are a meaningless, feel good "award" that marginalizes true accomplishment.

[Cmdbuddy]

I think it's ridicules, we didn't need that back when i was a cadet, back then solo wings actually meant something. If they are going to keep pre-solo wings then they need to be very distinctive from solo wings, just as I believe observer wings need to be distinctive from Pilot wings.

Maybe what CAP could do is this:

Award the (now) solo wings to those who have "pre-soloed", and add a star above the solo wings for those who have soloed. 

This is slightly similar to what AFROTC does.  AFROTC awards their solo wings to cadets who have either soloed, earned a pilot slot, or both.  And those cadets who have a pilot slot and earned their wings prior to being categorized as a pilot get a star above their wings. 

Or we could just not recognize anything below solo.  That's my vote

[Stonewall]

Personally, I wish they had the I applied for solo encampment but didn't get selected badge.  Hey, CAP owes me something for my intentions.