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14-The Canadian Champion, Frkday, April 20, 2001 --Ai*r cadet leaders and students on hand for Iaunch Miltonians were front and centre for yesterday's historic liftoff By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Most Miltonians no doubt caught home - town boy Chris Hadfield's historic Iiftoff yester- day aboard the space shuttie Endeavour. But some local residents gel a much dloser leok than others. Among themn were tour leader% of the Milten Air Cadets, who made their way dewn te Florida's Cape Canaveral eaelier this week and witnessed the launch fmom a special viewing area. White more than lhree miles away from Endeaveur, twe of Milten's space shuttle spectators knew fuît well that an ever- whelming sensation awaited themn yester- day - having heen en hand for launches in the past. said he's very pmoud to he asseciated with Col. Hadlield's educatien bursary pro- gram, adding "For a guy who's gone up in space. he's really down toe arth and just a heck of an individual.- Witncssing the launch alongside Mr. Chamberlain yesterday were fellow air cadet leaders Nick Klip, Rex Suttcliffe and Frank Phillips - a former commanding ofticer who viewed a liftoff from Daytona Beach 16 years ago. He recalled, It's a heck of a realization te think that one minute the shutes lifting off and the next thing you know it's over tndia. There's ne concept of (shuttle's) speed when you're on the ground." Mr. Phillips - a detective with Halton Regional Police - said he's been fascinat- ed with aviation and space travel since John Glenn's heyday and that Col. Hadtield's heginnings with the local air cadets reflect very positively on the pro- gram. Among the younger witnesses te, yester- day's launch were a small group of Milton District High School students. 'mr reatly leoking forward te this,' said grade Il studcnt Ashley Ward helore leav- ing on the trek. 'Ive atways heen intcrested in anything t0 do with aviation." Added grade 12 student Jeff Vandevalk, "t have ne dlue whal te expect, but it should he a great oppertunity. 1 only wish more people could go." 'Me students' excursion was paetially funded by local husinesses. MMMMA