Utica Councilman Joseph Marino and a Civil Air Patrol aircrew pose in front of the Cessna 182 that they flew over the City of Utica. From left: Lt. Col. John Jones of Utica, Councilman Marino, and Lt. Col. Steve Watson of Fayetteville. (Photo by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gerald Marketos)
(Utica, NY – June 4, 2013) A Civil Air Patrol aircrew recentl
y took a Utica city councilman on a familiarization flight in a CAP Cessna 182RG.
Joseph A. Marino, who represents the Fourth District on the Common Council, got “an aerial tour of the entire City of Utica, including the downtown business district, his 4th district, and many local landmarks,” noted Central New York Group Commander Lt. Col. John Jones.
The pilot of the aircraft was Lt. Col. Steve “Drifter” Watson, commander of the Rome-based Mohawk-Griffiss Senior Squadron (NY-156), with Lt. Col. Jones serving as mission scanner. The May 31st flight lasted about an hour and originated out of Griffiss International Airport in Rome.
Central New York Group is headquartered at Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse and is one of nine groups in New York Wing. The Civil Air Patrol is the search-and-rescue, cadet mentoring and aerospace education auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.