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National Here's our Summer Newsletter from Bryan written August 12, 2006.
Hello Challenger people, Here is your Challenger Summer Newsletter. As usual there's lots to report so refill your coffee before starting! Here's the agenda: - GALLERY ADDITION - TWO MILES HIGH GALLERY ADDITION - TWO MILES HIGH The Challenger Gallery has a new addition - a brilliant shot of the Penfound family's just completed Challenger II 582 on its maiden flight. The picture was taken by Audrey Mackey of Bancroft, Ontario and is titled "Two Miles High". I'm sure it will become a favourite screensaver on computers everywhere! I had the honour of the being at the controls for the test flight and the title "Two Miles High" derives from my diary entry of the ferry flight the next day. The text is included on the Gallery page with the photo. You can navigate there via the home page or go direct to the Gallery and click on the picture: CHALLENGER II 582 DOMINATES SALES & KEY ROTAX ANNOUNCEMENT The new 582 Power Package for the Challenger II Premium is proving extremely popular in Canada. So far in 2006 it has accounted for over 80% of all new sales! Details are on our web site in the form of text, pictures and videos: In related news, Rotax announced in June that the new 582 UL Mod 99 engine used in the Challenger II has been certified to meet the US Light Sport Aircraft category ASTM standards. This puts the 582 right alongside the 912 and 914. Way to go 582! CHALLENGER 1000 MILE CLUB Challenger owners continue to stride cross-country (actually cross-Canada) in their Seven League Boots! In a nutshell, because we have a flight to catch or a line to stand in, for now we'll limit ourselves to short capsules of several recent voyages: - In April, Larry Whittaker flew north from Edmonton to Kugluktuk on skis, completing the journey which started in Montreal. That's serious adventuring Larry! - In June, Doug and Denise Gagnon flew east from Vancouver Island to Southern Ontario on wheels, the reverse of their trip in 2003. Note that this is the Challenger 1000 Mile Club, not the Challenger Mile High Club! Your webmaster has no business documenting or even speculating about what goes on in the privacy of people's Challengers at 5000 feet! - In July, Kris Falk flew west from Montreal to Edmonton on Puddlejumper amphibious floats. The Challenger is affectionately nicknamed Jelly Bean! - In August, as this newsletter goes to press, Claude Roy of the Challenger Owners Association, Patrick Vinet of Puddlejumper Floats, and other nomadic owners are exploring Northern Quebec in their amphib Challengers. We'll look forward to seeing accounts and pictures from all these intrepid adventurers. They will appear here on challenger.ca, in COPA Flight and UPAC News, and in the flesh at Montebello in January 26-28, 2007! Meanwhile have a look at earlier Challenger 1000 Mile Club members exploits: By the way, or BTW as they write on the net, if you're wondering about where two people in a Challenger flying across Canada carry their baggage the answer is, other than the various nooks and crannies inside the plane, they all use something called a Belly Bag: Not quite in the 1000 Mile Club yet but another new Challenger took flight on the easternmost edge of Canada's East coast. Warmest congratulations to Ed Newhook whose Challenger made its first flight from Paddys Pond near St. John's under command of Hal Young, winner of the 2005 Vinet Award. Good show Ed and thanks Hal! SOME PARTING PHILOSOPHY ... This month marks 39 years since I earned my wings in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in Montreal. Back then, in my teens, peers who dropped off did so due to misadventure. Now, in my fifties, peers are dropping off of natural causes. The key difference is that you actually have more control over adventure than nature! Flying is no longer dangerous, aging is! As a result, the older I get the more appreciative I am of extraordinary experiences like "Two Miles High". And as a corollary, the less willing I am to spend time on activities which have little potential to lead to worthwhile memories. As summer moves inexorably towards fall I hope you are taking advantage of the long daylight hours to log special times of your own. Every day is a gift certificate - spend it wisely! Bryan
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