I couldn't stand it any more. Every month
I'd read another story about the fun of flying on skis or floats, of soaring
thousands of feet over Barrie, of boaters waving along the St. Lawrence.
In each story a simple fabric and frame Challenger was the "star".
On downwind to Barrie airport I'd imagine the author, Bryan Quickmire,
looking up at me muttering that I was not really experiencing truly fun
flying. So I took up the challenge.
Following a quick phone call I set a date to fly with Bryan. The
plans for an early morning trip were shelved due to a mechanical snag that
needed a visit to Canadian Tire. So we met later, that evening. Pulling
the beautiful red and white craft from the T-hanger was easy since the
plane is very light. I received a thorough pre-flight briefing on C-FXSL
itself and procedures like how to get in. Imagine a short, narrow canoe.
That's the cabin. The pilot sits up front with a large plastic canopy giving
super visibility. The sides of the cabin are very light, flexible transparent
panels that lift for access, or can be removed in seconds. The passenger
slithers over the 'gunwales', into a high backed seat and positions his
legs either side of the pilot. So I donned my compact life vest and reclined
in a surprisingly comfortable position with my feet up (just like watching
TV!)
Bryan fired up the modified 2-stroke snowmobile engine behind my
head, warmed up, and headed to the runway. We had headsets and intercom
to make conversation easy. Bryan uses a portable Nav/Com radio for communications
and a GPS to help navigate. This plane is sophisticated.
Take
off was brisk and short and the noise level, with headsets on, was comfortable.
At the point that I usually reach 200 feet and drift south to avoid overflying
a farmhouse at the end of the runway, Bryan turned right crosswind. The
plane climbs quickly and easily.
We left the circuit and headed to Little Lake. On the way Bryan lifted
the nose high to demonstrate a full power stall. With a slight stammer
the nose dropped a fraction and just kept flying - no dropped wing or lurching
spin.
Over the shoreline at about 700 feet he turned the engine off and
we drifted down for a water landing. With wheels locked UP we were a little
high for the selected landing spot. Easily he lost altitude with a forward
slip, corrected into the wind and stopped in a couple of hundred feet.
That was easy. With full power we accelerated across the wavelets and were
soon climbing into the sun. "Would you turn towards the shore at this
height?" asked Bryan. We were a few hundred feet from trees, at about
fifty feet. The C172 I fly could not clear them safely. The Challenger
swung round in a climbing 180 in half the distance to the trees!
Next we flew along the shore of Kempenfelt Bay. Here we encountered
the Wave. At every home, cottage or mansion we passed (below the tree tops)
we were met by waves from people on the dock or in the water. The Challenger
sliced through the slight turbulence as the evening breeze burbled over
the hillside down to the water. This was fun.
We cut a mile or so across the bay at about ten feet then returned
a few miles back along the south shore - waving all the way. We
landed in the rougher water of Lake Simcoe then enjoyed a high speed taxi
across the bay at about three feet, hitting every seventh wave crest. We
climbed up to pass around the cruise boat on its evening trip (that will
be something the passengers talk about next winter). Next we circled round
a sailboat and I was invited down for a drink. The engine sound prevented
me hearing the invite but I can read lips and the body language of an offered
Golden.
Back towards the airport we circled the new hospital helipad, staying
almost in its circumference in a tight, steep turn. The plane was as stable
as one could want. Finally Bryan gained some altitude and demonstrated
a wing-over. I'm not into aerobatics, and I'd just had a delicious catfish
and stir-fry supper. The plane pulled no exceptional Gs, was fully coordinated
in every turn, and I was having the time of my life.
As we headed into the circuit Bryan asked, "Is there anything
else I can show you?" Instantly I thought I'd ask for a quick cross
country, a spiraling climb to 8000 feet, a landing into a short, grass
field, a trip along the St. Lawrence, .... But time was up.
We landed easily on 25 Barrie, a little shorter than my most recent
"short field technique" attempt. I had used full braking, Bryan
used no brakes. An hour of fun was over so quickly. We shut down and secured
the airplane in the hangar. Then we replenished the gas supply as we talked
about flying in general and the Challenger in particular.
While a C172 or similar plane demands a formal method of flying,
a light weight, but powerful plane like the Challenger allows one to explore
flying in new directions. Everything about my demonstration flight was
professional and carefully planned and flown by an experienced pilot. But
at the end of the evening I knew I'd seen a side to flying that I've missed
so far.
You might get taunted to do some real flying by yet another Challenger
owner. Thanks Bryan for a great flying experience!
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