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Fly-In Organizer: Nicole McDonald, Athabasca County. Flight Description Fly In BBQ 11-3, beef on a bun lunch.
Athabasca is a great little airport that allows under wing
camping. They have fuel despite what it says in the CFS.
The FBO is at the south end in the big hangar where there is a
very lovely Twin Otter.
This was an awesome event and in addition to our very own IROC,
there were some 20 airplane's in attendance BEFORE 20 more came in
with John Lovelace's flight on their way to Larange, Sask.
I took a few pictures en-route with the camera in my Blackberry.
Passing Over Edmonton on the way north. Yes, I am Mode C
equipped.

Nicole MacDonald, the organizer of this event
took these pictures of IROC and the L39 overhead, shared them with
us and gave us permission to share them with you.
Just arrived and closing my flight plan

That's our friend's Gil and Patti's very pretty
Murphy Renegade beside IROC

Hmmmm, What's this taking off?

Ahhhh. I see....

On the way north earlier that morning, I was cruising
along at my normal 70 mph TAS (on Amphibious Floats), making 60-65
mph over the ground with the head winds. I was 26 miles back and heard a radio call from an
aircraft 28 minutes back anticipating the field in 4 minutes
I thought I misheard the pilot, or he made an error.
Not so fast. It all became clear when I arrived at Athabasca
a half hour later. It was an
L39 Jet!. I have a picture of it here from a COPA event in
Calgary.

And what, might you ask is all this hub bub about a jet on a
Challenger web site? Well did I mention I like airplanes
- of all types?
L39's are very pretty - I've heard them called a cross between
an F4 and an A5. They are very pretty, and apparently
pretty efficient for a fighter trainer at 150 gph economy
cruise at 300 KTAS. +8/-4 G’s and 2,000 fpm climb.
Now back to the Challenger with IROC at easily 1000 fpm,
+6/-3, 70mph (floats), 85 mph on wheels and a miserly 4gph
and it can be safely taken fishing. Try that in an
L39. There might have been a few more folks around the
jet, but IROC definitely took second place for the crowd
poking around skin! South of Athabasca, Southbound, on the way
home late in the afternoon.

The ceilings continued to rise throughout the day.
I actually enjoyed the flight up in the AM better as as the
ceilings were relatively low and very powerful looking. ATC
asked me for Pireps on the way up because they said several planes
had turned back. I'm not sure why really as many flew up in
Cessnas and Pipers, but a 1,000 feet of ceiling is forever in a
Challenger!
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