New Rochelle High School Student, Civil Air Patrol Cadet Earns Her Wings

Written By: Robert Cox

WHITE PLAINS, NY (October 17, 2022) — New Rochelle High School Senior and Civil Air Patrol Cadet 1st Lieutenant Cecilia Delgadillo, 17, earned her private pilot certificate recently, becoming a private pilot.

Cadet Delgadillo was awarded a scholarship through CAP’s Cadet Wings program that paid for her flight training in full.

“When I was 12, I made a promise to myself that I would get my private pilot license at 17, the minimum age,” said Delgadillo. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I had a goal. 5 years later and with the support of many amazing people, I did it.”

Delgadillo offered special thanks to everyone at Icarus Flying Academy and Civil Air Patrol.

Cadet Delgadillo is a member of Civil Air Patrol’s Westchester Cadet Squadron and a senior at New Rochelle High School. She started flight training at 14. Shortly after turning 15, she started taking flight lessons with Icarus Flying Academy out of FRG flying the Piper Warrior. Shortly after starting flying lessons, she took and passed her private pilot written test. She completed her first solo at 16, the minimum age to fly a plane alone.

In March 2022, she was awarded the Cadet Wings Scholarship, which helped her complete her license requirements and build experience.

Cadet 1st Lt Delgadillo recently passed her checkride at age 17, the minimum age for the private pilot license. In the future, she plans on attending a part 141 accredited college to complete the rest of her training. Her goal is to make it to the airlines by 21 and, hopefully, one day become a captain on the United Airlines 787.

The Cadet Wings program is funded through the United States Air Force in an effort to overcome the looming shortage of pilots. It is awarded to CAP Cadets to offset the cost of flight training.

Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and more than 2,100 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 56,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.