SDWG Assists KSWG via Temporary Aircraft Swap

South Dakota Wing has temporarily exchanged N832CP for a Kansas Wing aircraft, N524CP.  Kansas Wing benefits from the exchange because N832CP, a C182T, can tow the KSWG glider. South Dakota Wing benefits because N524CP, also a 182T, has an advanced G1000 NXi system.

“The reason for the swap is South Dakota Wing has at this time one of the only working glider towing airplanes in the region, N832CP,” said Lt. Col Justin Johnson, SDWG aircraft maintenance officer. “So after many emails and many questions by myself to making sure that our airplane, N832CP, will be kept to the South Dakota standards, after deliberation with the operations team we decided to send our airplane to Kansas Wing to help them out till the end of their gliding season or their glider towing airplane is finished with the engine overhaul.

Johnson added that the current Kansas wing glider towing airplane lost a cylinder and its engine overhaul is being held up by a nationwide shortage of pistons due to the COVID pandemic.

1st. Lt. Doug Peters, Flint Hills Composite Squadron maintenance officer, flew the interstate relocation sorties on Monday August 29. 

N832CP is usually based in Pierre. It will return to South Dakota no later than the end of November. In the interim, the Kansas NXi aircraft may be rotated around South Dakota for training. 

“I want to give a thanks to Myra Christensen, John Becker, and Chuck Trumble for getting N832CP ready to go,” said Johnson. “They double and tripled checked the paper work, gave the airplane a good washing and flew N832CP to Sioux Falls to swap with N97947, which they flew back to Pierre. I also want to thank Thor Bardon, squadron AMO in Sioux Falls, for helping me bring the paper work in N524CP up to reg standards and South Dakota Wing standards.”

The NXi system in the visiting aircraft combines added processing power compared to the G1000 systems in aircraft regularly based in South Dakota. It has brighter, smoother high-resolution displays, advanced features and built-in growth provisions — offering what Garmin calls “best and brightest” in integrated systems for aircraft.

“We are happy to support our fellow CAP members in Kansas Wing because we are ‘One CAP,’” said Col. Michael Marek, South Dakota Wing commander. “This looks to be a win-win for the two CAP wings.”