Taking Flight: Incentive Flights Fuel Aviation Dreams

Aviation is at the heart of the Air Force mission, and Detachment 880 ensures its cadets experience it firsthand. On September 4, 2026, a group of cadets traveled to Virginia Tech to join members of Air Force Flyers and Detachment 875 for a unique incentive flight opportunity. During the event, cadets engaged with pilots from the 41st Rescue Squadron, visiting from Moody Air Force Base, before taking to the skies aboard the HH-60W Jolly Green II.

Flying over Blacksburg and Christiansburg, the detachment got a firsthand look at the aircraft, its mission, and the dedicated airmen who execute critical rescue operations around the world. Representing VMI on this flight were Class of 2028 cadets Bacon, Clanton, Sieu, Johnson, Scopac, and Robles Rodriguez. These flights not only serve as a thrilling experience but also a way to ignite a passion for rated career fields. By getting cadets out of the classroom and into the aircraft, Detachment 880 continues to motivate its future officers to aim high and pursue their dreams of taking to the skies.