Va. unit assists with 'Air and Scare' at Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum

 

 

Cadet Staff Sgt. Samuel Walker helps a young visitor apply air in motion with a Ghostblaster.
 
(From left) Cadet Airman Basic Nate Watkins, Cadet Airman 1st Class Eric Arnesen, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Caleb Schneider and Cadet Staff Sgt. Samuel Walker take a break during the Ghostblasters activity.

Photos by Senior Member Liz Hamm
 

Capt. Christopher Colvin
Public Affairs Officer
Winchester Composite Squadron
Virginia Wing

VIRGINIA – Cadets from the Winchester Composite Squadron helped make sure visitors to the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum’s annual Air and Scare event came away with some aerospace education lessons as well as Halloween candy.

Visitors were treated to trick-or-treating, costume parades and trick-or-truth information stations where they found out if Area 51 exists, whether the museum collection includes an alien spaceship and even why someone would fly with a lion in the backseat of a plane.

“The Winchester squadron always is a bright star in the constellation of activities that make up Air and Scare,” said Jennifer McIntosh, Discovery Station program coordinator at the museum. “They were and are critical in developing and manning a station called Ghostblasters. 

“This is one of the most popular activities of the night, where visitors can try their hand at using air pressure via air cannons to knock about tissue paper ghosts,” McIntosh said.

“More children and adults learned about air in motion with our Ghostblaster activity this year than any of the past years,” said Maj. CJ Muncy, the squadron’s deputy commander of cadets. “I’m proud of the cadets who gave their time to teach the visitors to the museum about aerospace education with practical, hands-on activities.”

While Cadet Airman Basic Nate Watkins was tired at the end of the day, it was an experience he won’t soon forget.

“I had a lot of fun and the museum was really cool,” Watkins said. “We worked hard and met some members from other squadrons who stopped by.

“I think the best part of the day was seeing the kids’ eyes light up when they were using the Ghostblaster to move the ghosts.”

McIntosh added, “The squadron always gives the visitors an informative and high-energy experience—and working with them is always a blast!  They are an integral part of the night.”