OVERVIEW

Challenger owners and fans are cordially invited to the 5th Annual East Coast Challenger Rendezvous at Lawrencetown, NS. Bernie and Shelley Rector of East Coast Ultralight will once again host the event at their airstrip located in the beautiful and historic Annapolis Valley west of Halifax.

Eastebello is a great opportunity to be immersed in Challenger planes and Challenger people. Challengers will come from near and far - a flock is flying in from Ontario and Quebec! Planes will range from ye olde models to the new Light Sport XL-65. People will range from total newbies to world experts.

East Coast Ultralight has been a landmark in Lawrencetown since 1998.  The facility includes a 2000' grass strip with a hangar and a classroom.  For many years ECU has specialized in flight training, assembly and maintenance of Challenger aircraft. In 2010 East Coast Ultralight was appointed a full service Challenger dealer so now they offer the full gamut of sales and support.

In the sections below you will find full details of the agenda plus information on nearby accommodations as well as directions for flyers and drivers.

Please let Bernie and Shelley know right away of your plans to attend, whether for one, two or three days, so we can make sure we have enough chairs, food and beverages. Email bernie@eastcoastultralight.com or phone 902-584-3302.

Fly or drive but make it a priority to join us at Atlantic Canada's very own Challenger Rendezvous! It's on rain or shine! See you there!

Bryan Quickmire

AGENDA

Friday evening the early arrivers will enjoy pizza and the beverages of their choosing (BYOB!) at the airfield beside the roaring bonfire.

Saturday morning will see more arrivals from near and far plus local sightseeing flights. Demo flights will be available for Challenger wannabes.

Saturday for lunch it wil be hamburgers and hotdogs on the barbie. Coffee, pop and water will be available. If you are driving in please bring some chairs.

Saturday at 2pm there will be a welcome followed by presentations of interest to Challenger aficionados. Bryan Quickmire of National Ultralight, Challenger distributor for Canada, will review the latest news and happenings across Canada plus give an update on the new Challenger Light Sport X series. Bryan will wrap up with a Q&A session covering topics raised by attendees.

Saturday afternoon Claude Roy of Challenge Aviation in Ottawa will give a seminar on Formation Flying Basics. Sunday Claude will lead particpants on a formation flight to Waterville Airport. The ground sessions will be of interest to all attendees whether or not they intend to fly formation.

Click here for the seminar text plus briefing notes for the flight to Waterville.

Saturday evening's banquet will be at the End of the Line Pub in Bridgetown. After a fine meal we will return to the airstrip and gather around the fire pit to relax and tell flying stories. Think of this as hangar flying under the stars!

Sunday there will be more local sightseeing flights then departures for home.

DIRECTIONS

For those driving in it's quite simple. Lawrencetown is in the Annapolis Valley about two hours drive west of Halifax. Wherever you are just get on Highway 101 and get off at Exit 19. Turn north and drive 2 km. Look for the windsock!

Click here to get Google Maps directions to Eastebello from your location!

For those flying in, the East Coast Ultralight airstrip is an unregistered aerodrome located at N44'55'07 W65'11'02. It is not in the Canada Flight Supplement. Elevation is 180 ft ASL. Monitor traffic and report on 123.2 MHz.

The runway is 2,000 ft of grass oriented north/south. There is a small hump near the middle. The runway slopes uphill from south to north and at the north end there is a hangar and a house then a 900 ft hill. It is recommended to land uphill on runway 36 and takeoff downhill on runway 18.

If you are navigating the old fashioned way, by reading road maps, the airstrip is on the west side of Elliot Road just south of Clarence Road. This is along Elliot Road 2sm north of Lawrencetown or 2km north of Highway 101 Exit 19. Near the south perimeter there are four large chicken barns with shiny roofs.

Bring your own tiedowns - stakes and ropes. Transportation will be available for fuel, accommodations, meals, etc.

In case you can't shoehorn your bird into 2,000 ft, the nearest public airport is Waterville / Kings County Municipal (CCW3 in the CFS) which is 30sm to the east. The runway there is 3500x75 of asphalt. Note that CFB Greenwood (CYZX) is midway between East Coast Ultralight and Kings County but it is only open to civilian traffic in case of emergencies. Alternatively Digby (CYID in the CFS) is 40sm to the southwest. The runway there is 3900x75 of asphalt.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Falcourt Inn is a few minutes from the airstrip and has offered a discount of $20 off plus free breakfast to Eastebello attendees. Just say you are with the Challenger Fly-in: http://www.falcourtinn.ns.ca/ 902-825-3399 1-800-464-8979

Here are just a few of the motels quite near the airstrip:

Carleton Motel and Cabins http://www.carletonmotelns.ca/ 902-665-4716

Bridgetown Motor Inn http://www.bridgetownmotorinn.ca/ 902-665-4403

Middleton Motel http://www.middletonmotel.ca/ 902-825-3433

For still more choices of habitat you can click here to have Google Maps do a Search Nearby for accommodations.

Adventurous souls with campers and tents are welcome however you should be self-sufficient since there are no facilities other than portapotties.

CONTACTS

Bernie & Shelley Rector - bernie@eastcoastultralight.com - 902-584-3302