It鈥檚 a bird, it鈥檚 a plane, it鈥檚 a band of air cadets.

Around 20 of the 909 Squadron Royal Canadian air cadets and one Capital News reporter got the opportunity Saturday, June 10 to see West 91大黄鸭 from a bird鈥檚 eye view.

At Wildcat Helicopters, the cadets strapped themselves into a Bell 212 helicopter and enjoyed the sights of trees, mountains, houses and trails from a different perspective.

For cadets Ben Hinter, 14, and Morgan Elder, 13, it was their first time in a helicopter.

鈥淭aking off was super cool, I liked the initial feeling of lifting off the ground and when we looked at all the trees and stuff that you normally don鈥檛 get to see,鈥� said Hinter. 鈥淚t was interesting because I felt like there鈥檚 so much unchartered territory it seems.鈥�

Elder saw her house as she flew past.

鈥淚鈥檓 pretty sure my dad was watching. I liked turning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved seeing all the trees and going through them was kind of nice.鈥�

All the cadets said they鈥檇 do it again and exchanged stories of who saw what waterfall and how they felt about the flight.

Being home schooled, Hinter got into air cadets to socialize. 鈥淎nd you get to go in helicopters which is a really big bonus,鈥� he said.

He doesn鈥檛 know what he wants to be yet, but 鈥渕aybe if I become really rich I鈥檒l buy a helicopter and learn how to fly it,鈥� he said.

Elder always thought airplanes were interesting and joined the cadets because of her older brother.

The last time the air cadets went up in the air for a helicopter flight was three years ago.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e going to be doing today is called a familiarization flight, so getting the cadets familiar with various air crafts, getting them exposed to the aviation industry,鈥� said Lt. Hannah Moir.

The cadets also looked at various air crafts in the hanger as groups took turns in the helicopter.

Flight sergeant Ryan Jaggard is used to being up in the sky and helped put the idea of a helicopter experience in motion.

Last summer, Jaggard received his glider pilot鈥檚 license which allows him to fly SGS-233A Schweizer glider planes.

Jaggard鈥檚 father was a mechanic in the military and pushed him towards joining the cadets.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where things took off, both literally and figuratively,鈥� he said.

He hopes to pursue a military career, but for now he鈥檚 a Grade 11 student at Mount Boucherie Secondary.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a dream to be up in the air. It鈥檚 freedom basically,鈥� he said.

This summer he plans to get his engine license as part of the power pilot scholarship course which will allow him to fly small planes that contain engines.

鈥淎fter the summer I鈥檒l be able to fly powered air crafts, but I won鈥檛 be able to drive,鈥� he laughed.

The helicopter rides ended the air cadet season which takes place from September to June. Now, cadet summer camps are starting.

To find out more information about the air cadet program visit www.909peregrine.ca. The program is available for ages 12 to 18.