The 2012 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award was presented to The de Nijs Family from southwestern Ontario. They assembled their two Light Sport Challengers in the workshop during the winter lull on the farm. All three generations participated - from unloading the boxes from the truck through assembling and launching the planes. It was literally every man, woman and child. They flew their Challengers 1500 km round trip to Montebello on skis to win the Farthest Flown Award. Their XL-65 was voted the Best Showplane! They took the Triple Crown! We have seen no better example of passion for flight!

The 2012 Dave Allan Memorial Award was won by the very deserving and very surprised Rob Lake of Kingston, Ontario. Rob left his day job several years ago so he could spend his full time in the Challenger community. He has assembled Challengers for himself and for others plus he has traveled to assist owners at their locations. Rob has spent a huge amount of his personal time talking on the phone and communicating via email to answer questions and guide people on assembly of Challengers, all across Canada and the United States. Rob is indeed a most worthy recipient of this honour.

The 2011 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award was presented to Bernie and Shelley Rector of East Coast Ultralight in Nova Scotia. They have a 2000' grass strip with hangar, classroom, workshop and two Challengers. Bernie has 1,500 hours in Challengers on wheels, skis and floats and he has built a half dozen Challengers. In 2011 East Coast Ultralight became a full time, full service Challenger dealer. Bernie and Shelley have hosted the East Coast Challenger Rendezvous since its inception in 2010. Clearly they have made a major contribution to furthering ultralight aviation on the east coast!

The 2011 Dave Allan Memorial Award was presented to Bob Robertson, owner of Light Engine Services, the Western Canada Rotax Service Centre. Bob's Aero Controls throttle quadrants and splitter cables are found in many if not most Canadian Challengers. He developed an excellent, high quality system for oil injection on Challengers powered by the Rotax 503. Bob is regarded internationally as an expert on Rotax engines. He is known for giving his advice freely by phone and email as well as on internet forums. Bob is not just a contributor of great prodicts and service - he also contributes to safety by sharing his extensive knowledge with others.

The 2010 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award was presented to John Woudstra of Stittsville, Ontario. John came to the Challenger community a decade ago via gliding and general aviation. He did an excellent job of building his own Challenger and has been an ardent flyer on skis and floats. John has overcome substantial personal challenges during this period yet he has continued not just to fly himself but to foster and encourage others. He has been active in the Young Eagles and Youth Flight programs to attract the next generation to aviation. John is an outstanding example of passion for flight.

The 2010 Dave Allan Memorial Award was presented to Patrick Vinet of Puddlejumper Floats! After his father Maurice passed away Patrick left his career at an engineering firm to run the float business full time. He has made Puddlejumper amphibious floats the most popular choice for light aircraft everywhere. Patrick's ongoing refinements have made PJ floats lighter and more durable plus more functional all at the same time. In float flying lighter weight is extremely important for performance but at the same time it is extremely difficult to achieve without sacrificing durability and functionality. Patrick has succeeded and is to be lauded for his achievements.

The 2009 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award went to Mike and Tracy Hughes of Edmonton who have run Challenger West since 2004. They fly hers and his Challengers and are assembling another. In addition to flying all over Alberta they made an epic Challenger voyage from southern Illinois to Edmonton. They also own a Cessna 182 which they say doesn't get much air time since they prefer to be aloft in their Challengers! Mike and Tracy have hosted the Western Challenger Owners Rendezvous every year since 2007. It's hard to imagine more passion!

The 2009 Dave Allan Memorial Award was presented to Greg Klemp Sr of Sheer Technologies. Greg designed, tested and perfected the 582 engine cooling and cabin heating systems together with the mounts that make feasible widespread use of this more powerful engine in Challengers. The additional 30% thrust afforded by the 582 puts sprightly performance back into Challengers operating in trying conditions with floats, heavy loads and/or high density altitudes. The 582 Challenger has achieved landslide popularity since its introduction in Canada in 2005 and pilots owe Greg a debt of gratitude!

The 2008 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award was bestowed upon Larry Whittaker of Kugluktuk in Nunavut. Major health issues delayed Larry from taking delivery of his new Challenger built by Dave Griffth near Montreal. After a long recuperation Larry airlined to Montreal and then as his checkout in type he flew on wheels over 3,000 km west to Edmonton with Bruce Brown mentoring in the back seat. Larry then continued solo on wheel/skis over 1,600 km more - north to Kugluktuk on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. The ferry flight home totalled just about 5,000 km - not bad for a beginner!

The 2008 Dave Allan Memorial Award was presented to Jean-Claude Lachance and Pauline Labrecque of Turbulence Aviation. Over the past decade Jean-Claude and Pauline designed, developed, manufactured and marketed numerous products specific to Challengers. Their products range from the practical (like wheel/skis) to the luxurious (like custom interiors). The Turbulence products are creatively conceived, superbly crafted and fully supported. Jean-Claude and Pauline have enhanced utility and pleasure for Challenger owners worldwide.

The 2007 Maurice Vinet Memorial Award was presented to Kris Falk of Terrace, BC. Kris abandoned general aviation as well as his day job several years ago to focus on the Challenger life style. Kris now makes his living flying and instructing in Challengers as well as building and inspecting them for others. He has twice flown Challengers from Montreal to Edmonton! Follow Kris on one of his journeys in The Adventures Of One Jelly Bean.

The recipient of the inaugural 2007 Dave Allan Memorial Award was Dave Griffith of Katevale, QC. Dave Griffith has been a member of the Challenger community for close to the full quarter century. In that time he has become the master builder of the master builders with an impressive total of 45 Challengers assembled! Dave's craftsmanship is the pride of the owners of his Challengers.

The 2006 Vinet award went to Dale Erhart of Comox, BC. Dale is an A-340 airline pilot, retired CF-18 fighter pilot and extremely enthusiastic Challenger owner. Earlier in the afternoon he had given an interesting and informative session on building his Challenger and flying it on floats on the West Coast. In a short time Dale has become a reservoir of knowledge and experience as well as a sparkplug to ignite the growth of the Challenger on the West Coast.

In 2006 a Special Vinet Award was given to Ian Coristine who had retired from National Ultralight, the Canadian distributor of the Challenger. Ian was a pioneer in the ultralight movement in the late seventies and he spearheaded the introduction of the Challenger in Canada in the eighties. His long distance flights plus his articles, photographs and video have inspired countless others to join our world.

The 2005 Vinet Award was given to Harold Young of St. John's, Newfoundland. Harold built his Challenger over the course of a single winter and produced a fine aircraft that is truly a work of art. He has become a focal point for Challenger owners in Newfoundland, providing support and encouragement for the growing flock. Harold and his Challenger are somewhat unique in that neither has ever flown off land - only from the water on floats! Harold's Challenger II C-IYNG appears in our Challenger Gallery. Click here to view.

In 2005 a Special Vinet Award was presented to Bruce Brown of St. Lazare, QC. As a full time Challenger professional Bruce has accumulated a vast repository of knowledge and experience on all aspects of the aircraft - from building to flying to maintaining. He is exceptionally generous in sharing this expertise with the Challenger community. Bruce is a cornerstone of the Challenger SOC Inspection safety initiative and has travelled all over Canada spreading safety far and wide. Bruce recently flew a Challenger from Montreal to Edmonton with Larry Whittaker. Read about the trip in Seven League Boots.

The 2004 Vinet Award went to Doug and Denise Gagnon of Nanoose Bay, BC. Doug has 28,000 hours of air force and airline time and is presently a Boeing 777 captain. Denise has 28 hours and is working on her Ultralight Pilot Permit! In September 2003 the Gagnon's flew their Challenger from Barrie, Ontario (near Toronto) to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island - 4,000 km! See Seven League Boots for a brief account of their voyage. The Gagnon's Challenger II C-IDDG appears in our Challenger Gallery. Click here to view.

The 2003 Maurice Vinet Award was presented to Dr. Tom Reavell who says he looks to the future with enthusiasm and excitement for the wonderful experiences which await him, the sights that are now beyond his imagination, and the people he will have the opportunity to meet simply because he flies. We'll second that emotion!

The 2002 Vinet award went to Gord Ekstrom who demonstrates a passion for Challenger flying, building and socializing that sets an example for us all. Gord's exquisite craftsmanship has to be seen to be believed - his Challenger has a special mount for his fly fishing rod! Gord's Challenger appeared on the March 2004 cover of COPA Flight.

The inaugural 2001 Maurice Vinet award was presented by Maurice's sons Patrick and Andre to the very deserving Major Claude Roy. Claude founded the Canadian Challenger Owners Association over a decade ago and has shepherded it to become the most active and respected in recreational aviation. Claude has logged countless miles in his Challenger on floats and skis, including a flight from Ottawa to James Bay - in the middle of winter!