Milwaukee, WI - A new addition was made to the aircraft housed in the Timmerman CAP hangar. The Gippsland GA-8 Airvan has made its temporary nest there in preparation for the Wisconsin Wing evauated search and rescue exercise (SAR-Eval) this weekend.

The single engine, high-winged aircraft is one of 18 in CAP's posession and contains the Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance (ARCHER) system. With a length of 29 feet and a wingspan of more than 40 feet, it leaves little breathing room when packed in with the glass cockpit Cessna 182 and the Youth and Aviation Cessna 172. The CAP's historic Piper Cub known as "Li'l Poof" was moved to another hangar on field to make room for the Australian-made behemoth.

According to Maj Thomas Mescher, former Commander of Milwaukee Senior Support Squadron 10, the GA-8 will be primarily used in the August SAR-Eval, and will also collect air time in training crews to use the ARCHER and Satellite Digital Imaging System (SDIS). Proficiency flying is also a target for the squadron's pilots. "There are very few places in the state that can house the large aircraft. Milwaukee 10th Senior has the facility and many qualified pilots to fly the aircraft," said Mescher.

The GA-8 arrived at Timmerman in mid-July, and is expected to remain there until the end of August when it will be transfered elsewhere within Great Lakes Region.

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