When the first cadets arrived, groups of five were assigned to a civilian flight instructor. According to one cadet after his first flight, “I thought that contraption made up of wood, canvas and wires, with a whirling blade and howling motor in front of my face would shake itself to pieces before it ever got back to solid ground. One of the biggest lies I ever told in my entire life was my answer to the instructor when he asked me how I liked it…I told him I liked it fine and hope the Good Lord has forgiven me.”