In case you haven't figured it out, the idea is to Just Get Flying!
Western Challenger Owners Group Flights
If you are interested in participating, and want to be apprised of details, or want to organize a group flight of your own that you would like us to publish here, just click the email icon below. We'll publish your idea on this page for the benefit of all Challenger (and other ultralights) Owners. There is a block at the bottom of the table of tentative flights (below) you can use to email your ideas.
Western Challenger Owners Group Flight Ideas
These are examples of a few things we know are in the early stages of planning.
Suggested rules of engagement:
- The intent is to keep this fun and affordable!
- We should be responsible pilots per the CARS- participants responsible for having all relevant information for the flight available (maps, weather, NOTAMS, pireps, etc.)
- Flight organizers responsible for advanced route planning, and also for advising on any radio requirements, Class C airspace, etc.
- Participants can join at any defined en-route point, but must pre-advise organizer of anticipated joining point.
- All participants responsible for own flight plans if joining en-route.
- Organizers will file flight plans or flight itineraries for group legs. People joining en-route should file their own flight plans.
- Prior to the flight commencing, specific dates, timing and routing will be published here, and by email to registered participants.
- For longer flights, the organizers will make arrangements for access to en-route fuel for all pilots. Those not pre-registering for any given flight may have to make their own fuel arrangements.
- Some flights may have to involve a fee if commercial establishments are involved (e.g. enroute accommodations, fuel caches, etc.) or if permits are required for landing.
- Any applicable landing fees for en-route points having such annoying things will come to you directly via TC and your registration numbers.
- We tend to try and support local fly-ins and air-shows. The ones we know about or suspect are likely to happen are listed here. These are often a great to fly to and enjoy some under the wing camping.
| Neil's Nova Scotia or Bust Voyage (Yes this is real, and Neil is looking for Ultralight flyers to join him) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Neil Lutes - he'll be recruiting at Westebello - something about getting all the trophies at Montebello in 2008! |
| Flight Description | Cross Canada and Back |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit, beer money for IFR days |
| Dates | A long trip departing July, returning ... (Neil, when did yu say you were returning?) |
| Origin/Staging Point | Attendees will group at and depart from St. Albert |
| Enroute Points | Where ever there are fish! |
| Destination | Nova Scotia and then back. |
| Northern Alberta Weekend Fishing Junket (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and Neil Lutes |
| Flight Description | Yet to be determined Lakes North and or West of Edmonton |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | A weekend trip departing on a Friday late afternoon and returning on a Sunday about noon to allow time for trips home |
| Origin/Staging Point | Attendees will group at and depart from Villeneuve |
| Enroute Points | TBD |
| Destination | Villeneuve |
| Ram River Ripper | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes |
| Flight Description | Ram River Ripper. Fishing, and Camping under the wing. |
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| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Wheels or Amphibs. It may be helpful to be part goat to get down to the river, but it can be done - I used to fish there when I was a kid. |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fishing License, Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | A Saturday AM - Sunday PM |
| Origin/Staging Point | A flock will leave from Wetaskiwin, others can join en-route. We'll gather at Rocky Mountain House and head west to an abandoned, but very serviceable airstrip near the falls. I over flew this on May 11 in the 182 and the windsock was even working! |
| Enroute Points | Rocky Mountain House |
| Destination | Abandoned Airstrip above Ram River Falls |
| Northern Alberta Fishing Journey (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and Neil Lutes |
| Flight Description | Yet to be determined Lakes North and or West of Edmonton |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | A week long trip departing on a Friday and returning the following weekend |
| Origin/Staging Point | Attendees will group at and depart from Athabasca |
| Enroute Points | TBD |
| Destination | Athabasca |
| Kananaskis and Cowboy Trail Round Up (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | A weekend camp out. Enroute campsite TBD. |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Wheels or amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | TBD |
| Origin/Staging Point | Airdrie or Canmore |
| Enroute Points | Canmore, Highway 40, Longview, Claresholm, FortMacleod, High River |
| Destination | Airdrie |
| Western Puddle Jump - South Legs (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | Skip around some Alberta Puddles - Southern Lakes |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | Summer - Over a weekend |
| Origin | Chestermere Lake |
| Enroute Points | Lake Newell, McGregor Lake, Chain Lakes, Old Man Reservoir, Chestermere Lake |
| Destination | Chestermere Lake |
| Western Puddle Jump - North Legs (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | Skip around some Alberta Puddles - Northern Lakes |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | Summer - Over a weekend |
| Origin | Coal Lake |
| Enroute Points | Cooking Lake, Lac Sante, Moose Lake, Cold Lake, Slave Lake, etc. |
| Destination | Coal Lake |
| Alpine Puddle Jump (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | Look out Trout |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphibs |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | Summer - Over a weekend |
| Origin | Wabamun Lake |
| Enroute Points | Wizard Lake, Sylvan Lake, Phyllis Lake, Alford Lake, Cow Lake, Swan Lake |
| Destination | Wabamun Lake |
| Kananaskis Winter Ski Run (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | Airdrie to Kananaskis Golf Course; Overnight at Kananaskis Inn, return to Airdrie via Canmore. |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Skis |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | TBD |
| Origin | Airdrie |
| Enroute Points | Kananaskis Golf Course and Lodge (Assuming Permissions can be obtained) |
| Destination | Canmore |
| Alpine Adventure (Tentative) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | Mike Hughes and TBD |
| Flight Description | |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | Amphip Floats or Wheels. There are some high lakes enroute that may permit landing and fishing - have to check on that . Rumour has it one of them is stocked with Golden Trout. |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | Fly rod, tent, sleeping bag, bug spray, toiletries, first aid kit |
| Dates | TBD |
| Origin | Wetaskiwin or Rocky |
| Enroute Points | West from Rocky along North Saskatchewan River via Nordeg to Headwaters. Over Howse Pass and South to Golden. Possible overnight at Golden. Return via Kicking Horse Pass and TransCanada Highway to Canmore and then North to Wetaskiwin |
| Destination | Canmore or Wetaskiwin |
| Feel free to email us your idea (Just copy this section of the table into your email) | |
| Flight Organizer(s) | |
| Flight Description | |
| Suggested Challenger Configuration | |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | |
| Dates | |
| Origin | |
| Enroute Points | |
| Destination | |