Kalispell, MT
gen
Kalispell, MT. It was a very nice place to fly, but not well-known, so
I'd like to share my experiences.
At 48.17N, Kalispell is the northernmost glider operation in the US.
It is only 50 miles to the Canadian border. The glider operation is
very small. They have only one Blanik for rides. There is no private
pilots or gliders flying there, but if you bring your own ship, they
will give you a tow.
What I liked about the place:
- It is a scenic place to fly. Especially, flying over Glacier
National Park was very cool (and it was cold literally, too). Note
that glaciers are very far from any roads (you need binoculars to see
them), and there is no commercial aerial tours to fly over the park,
so flying in a glider is the only way to see glaciers close unless you
are willing to do multi-day hike or charter an airplane.
- Kalispell is a decent city (population is about 15,000) with many
good restaurants, motels, coffee shops, big grocery stores, and
hardware stores all within several miles from the airport. The airport
is right next to Hilton Garden Inn's parking lot, so if you stay
there, you don't even need a car.
- If soaring condition isn't good, there are many other things to do.
Glacier National Park is only 40 min away, and has nice hiking trails
and an educative guided tours. Or, you can just hang around in the
city for a day or two. I heard that it is a cool and pleasant place in
the summer in general. There is a big lake (Flathead Lake) to the
south where you can go for a cruise or fishing (I didn't try).You
could also drive into Canada (I didn't try).
- They have a good tow plane (Cessna 182). The tow was comfortable and
smooth for my LS8.
- There are reasonable amount of landout sites.
- People were very friendly and helpful. They were happy to see a
different bird.
Soaring condition:
I stayed there from September 4th to 10th, and had two soarable day. I
went up to about 12,000 ft (9,000 ft AGL) and flew for about 4 hours
for both flights. Here are OLC logs and my notes of the flights.
9/8: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=-1664771369
9/10: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=-1413442178
http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/first-flight-at-kalispell-mt.html
http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/flying-over-glacier-national-park.html
It was very late in the summer and I flew only twice, so I can't say
if it's a spectacular place or not. No one does cross country flights
there, so there is no data. But at least I proved that I could hit the
Canadian border and fly over Glacier National Park. Since there are
other things to do, I wasn't frustrated at all even though I could fly
only twice.
What you need to be aware:
- They aren't used to visits by private pilots, so expect small bumps
in the operation. In fact, I was the first visitor as far as they
could remember. No one has experience of assembling a glider. I was
lucky to have a one man rigger. But again, people were friendly and
helpful.
- There is no oxygen service at the airport. There is one at Glacier
Park International airport which is 15 min drive from Kalispell
airport.
- Worldwide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange has no turnpoint database which
includes this area. I created one by myself from FAA's generic US
airport database, and used it for SeeYou and SN10.
- It's very close to Glacier Park International (class D) which has
frequent jet traffic. I wouldn't fly there without a transponder.
- Yes, it's very far, depending on where you are coming from.
Despite the amount of efforts I needed, I think it was well worth
visiting there.
Contact Red Eagle Aviation (http://www.redeagleaviation.com/) if you
are interested in flying there. I do not receive any incentives for
sending customers :)
Here are some pics of the flights.
http://picasaweb.google.com/gens2000/Kalispell20090908
http://picasaweb.google.com/gens2000/Kalispell20090910AFlightOverGlacierNationalPark
Thanks,
-Gen
Frank Whiteley
> 9/10:http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId...http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/first-flight-at-kalispell-mt....http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/flying-over-glacier-national-...
>
> Thanks,
> -Gen
It's an SSA chapter known as Glacier Eagles Soaring Club, but I've
never been able to complete a call to the listed contact. Maybe Red
Eagle Aviation has better phone service;^)
Thanks for the report,
Frank Whiteley
Dave Nadler
> 9/10:http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId...http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/first-flight-at-kalispell-mt....http://genssoaring.blogspot.com/2009/09/flying-over-glacier-national-...
>
> Thanks,
> -Gen
Beautiful ! I visited the park for a week with my wife last
summer after the nats. I had hoped to fly over the park
(from Glacier airport), but unfortunately the weather
didn't cooperate. I'll have to try again one of these days...
Thanks for posting this and the great photos,
Best Regards, Dave "YO electric"
gen
has been no soaring activities for years. Red Eagle Aviation is the
only entity you can get a tow from.
The receptionist lady had a thought that gliding was a sports to just
tow up and slide down like skiing. She was astonished when I said I
flew 4 hours.
gen
traveling from coast to coast anyway :)
gen
restrictions over National Parks except for Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
-Gen
> It is a nice place. We took a tin-can ride up there last summer. Here's
> some pics of our over-nighter from KHLN and back.
>
> http://imagesdesavions.com/mt/004/mt_004.htmlhttp://imagesdesavions.com/mt/005/mt_005.html
>
> --
> RCOS #7
> IBA# 11465http://imagesdesavions.com
Jack Hamilton
wrote:
>At 48.17N, Kalispell is the northernmost glider operation in the US.
>It is only 50 miles to the Canadian border. The glider operation is
>very small. They have only one Blanik for rides. There is no private
>pilots or gliders flying there, but if you bring your own ship, they
>will give you a tow.
It's hard to tell whether the web pages are current, but Mr. Google
finds two operations in Alaska:
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/ops/dot/Glider/ak.cfm (Civil Air Patrol)
http://home.gci.net/~pdb/ (claims to be only private glider in Alaska)
Greg Arnold
Pete Brown
> At 48.17N, Kalispell is the northernmost glider operation in the US.
Not exactly but it sure looks like a wonderful place to fly.
--
Pete Brown
Anchorage Alaska
Going home after a long day
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/1325102827_f322928754_b.jpg
The fleet at Summit. Mt. McKinley is about 45nm away at 20,320 msl.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/437346531_a9cb8d2482_b.jpg
The 170B at Bold near Eklutna Glacier
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/437324742_a216d7bb75.jpg
gen
thought there must be some.
By the way, my original plan was to go further north into Canada, and
fly at Invermere. But I couldn't gather enough information on how to
go through the border (in both directions) and any special flight
regulations that might apply to US experimental gliders, so I
eventually gave up.
Invermere has an active club, and it seems to be a nice place to stay
and fly. It's right next to Banff National Park.
Soaring Club at Invermere
http://www.canadianrockiessoaring.com
OLC logs
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightsOfAirfield.html?aa=INVEB1&st=olc&rt=olc&c=C0&sc=&sp=2009
I once met someone from Canada bringing his own C number glider to
Parowan and flying there, so why not the opposite.. If anyone has done
it, I'd love to hear your experiences.
-Gen
Frank Whiteley
Currently, the chapter has 9 members (one family) and renewed in June
of 2009. The secretary has a redeagleaviation.com e-mail. The L-13 is
the one aircraft owned by GESC. Can't say what their business plan
is, but their SSA Where To Fly info appears current.
One Montana site that's not on the Where To Fly Montana map is
http://www.wavesoaringadventures.com/ which is on the WA map as they
operate out of two locations.
Frank Whiteley
Frank Whiteley
gen
least 500km.
Yes, there is a glider operation at Hamilton, MT, too. I dropped by
there and flew a couple of days on my way to Kalispell from King
Mountain.
-Gen
> Currently, the chapter has 9 members (one family) and renewed in June
> of 2009. The secretary has a redeagleaviation.com e-mail. The L-13 is
> the one aircraft owned by GESC. Can't say what their business plan
> is, but their SSA Where To Fly info appears current.
>
> One Montana site that's not on the Where To Fly Montana map ishttp://www.wavesoaringadventures.com/which is on the WA map as they
JS
task to "validate" the airworthiness. Look at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/regserv/affairs/cars/part5/507.htm
Radio operators (pilot and ground crew) and radio stations must be
licenced.
There's the possibility of having to pay a bond to get the glider
across the border, returned on departure from Canada.
Jim
Dave Springford
"categories"
"Category 1" flying with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for
a type certified glider, or "Category 2" if your glider is registered
as Experimental.
1. If you are NOT registered as Experimental - there is nothing you
need do to, just drive across the border go to a gliding site assemble
and fly.
2. If you ARE registered as Experimental, then you need permission
from Transport Canada to fly your experimental glider in Canadian
airspace. You can do this by making a written request to Transport
Canada.
The following link is a starting point for those who want to do their
own research:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/maintenance/regsdocs/validation.htm
After speaking with somebody at Transport Canada that knows the
current procedure for you to fly your “Experimental” glider in Canada
it is now called a “Validation of Foreign Flight Authority”.
Scan your Certificate of Registration and special Certificate of
Airworthiness with the Letter of Operating Limitations. The documents
should be in PDF format and the request should be sent to the
following e-mail address:
In the message state that you are requesting permission to fly your
glider licenced in the “Experimental” category and where you plan to
fly in Canada as well as the specific dates.
Now - armed with that information - who wants to fly in the Canadian
Nationals, North Battleford Saskatchewan from 15 - 25 June?
North Battleford is a little north of Kalispell located at 52° 46′ 9″
N, 108° 14′ 37″ W and offers 10,000 AGL days with sunset at 11 pm!
Google Map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.769167,-108.243611&spn=0.03,0.03&t=m&q=52.769167,-108.243611
gen
for the trip.
We don't hear much about soaring in Canada here, but keep them coming.
-Gen
On Mar 1, 11:43 am, Dave Springford <sprin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It is possible to fly a US registered glider in Canada. There are two
> "categories"
>
> "Category 1" flying with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for
> a type certified glider, or "Category 2" if your glider is registered
> as Experimental.
>
> 1. If you are NOT registered as Experimental - there is nothing you
> need do to, just drive across the border go to a gliding site assemble
> and fly.
>
> 2. If you ARE registered as Experimental, then you need permission
> from Transport Canada to fly your experimental glider in Canadian
> airspace. You can do this by making a written request to Transport
> Canada.
>
> The following link is a starting point for those who want to do their
> own research:http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/maintenance/regsdocs/validation.htm
>
> After speaking with somebody at Transport Canada that knows the
> current procedure for you to fly your “Experimental” glider in Canada
> it is now called a “Validation of Foreign Flight Authority”.
>
> Scan your Certificate of Registration and special Certificate of
> Airworthiness with the Letter of Operating Limitations. The documents
> should be in PDF format and the request should be sent to the
> following e-mail address:
>
>
> In the message state that you are requesting permission to fly your
> glider licenced in the “Experimental” category and where you plan to
> fly in Canada as well as the specific dates.
>
> Now - armed with that information - who wants to fly in the Canadian
> Nationals, North Battleford Saskatchewan from 15 - 25 June?
>
> North Battleford is a little north of Kalispell located at 52° 46′ 9″
> N, 108° 14′ 37″ W and offers 10,000 AGL days with sunset at 11 pm!
>
> Google Map link:
>
> http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.769167,-108.243611&spn=0.03,0.03&t=...
Dave Nadler
> It is possible to fly a US registered glider in Canada. There are two
> "categories"
>
> "Category 1" flying with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness for
> a type certified glider, or "Category 2" if your glider is registered
> as Experimental.
>
> 1. If you are NOT registered as Experimental - there is nothing you
> need do to, just drive across the border go to a gliding site assemble
> and fly.
>
> 2. If you ARE registered as Experimental, then you need permission
> from Transport Canada to fly your experimental glider in Canadian
> airspace. You can do this by making a written request to Transport
> Canada.
>
> The following link is a starting point for those who want to do their
> own research:http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/maintenance/regsdocs/validation.htm
>
> After speaking with somebody at Transport Canada that knows the
> current procedure for you to fly your “Experimental” glider in Canada
> it is now called a “Validation of Foreign Flight Authority”.
>
> Scan your Certificate of Registration and special Certificate of
> Airworthiness with the Letter of Operating Limitations. The documents
> should be in PDF format and the request should be sent to the
> following e-mail address:
>
>
> In the message state that you are requesting permission to fly your
> glider licenced in the “Experimental” category and where you plan to
> fly in Canada as well as the specific dates.
>
> Now - armed with that information - who wants to fly in the Canadian
> Nationals, North Battleford Saskatchewan from 15 - 25 June?
>
> North Battleford is a little north of Kalispell located at 52° 46′ 9″
> N, 108° 14′ 37″ W and offers 10,000 AGL days with sunset at 11 pm!
>
> Google Map link:
>
Too bad it overlaps the USA 18-meter nationals, as
its only 38 hours drive from my house per Google...
Sandy Stevenson
Interesting post on Kalispell, and it looks like Dave Springford has
done all the homework for American pilots wanting to fly in Canada.
Invermere is a commercial operation offering a 260 hp Pawnee towplane
with a club also embedded at the site, and does have great soaring
conditions. 1000 km flights have been done
running up and down the Columbia River valley in which it sits.
There is a closer operation to Kalispell than that. My home club is
just outside Calgary at Black Diamond, Alberta, and I'm sure we could
make tow arrangements for for visiting pilots if they called ahead.
See our site at:
http://www.cunim.org
Of greater interest may be that there is a first class wave site just
north of the border at Cowley, Alberta.
The Alberta Soaring Council hosts two wave camps annually at the site,
which it owns.
Dates are:
July 24 to August 2,
Oct. 2 to Oct. 11, 2010.
The airfield is not active outside of those dates.
Twenty to twenty five years ago, we used to get American pilots from
Washington and Oregon coming up for the camp,
but that doesn't seem to happen now.
Full details can be found at:
http://www.soaring.ab.ca/index.html
Flights to 28,000 ft are possible if conditions are favorable.
Please read the site specific material on the website very thoroughly
before you come if you're inclined to attend.
Memorable flights in spectacular scenery often occur, but it's an
ecologically sensitive site subject to high winds with specific air
space restrictions.
Years ago, it used to be common to do cross country flights from
Cowley into the Flathead valley, where cloud bases to 14,000 feet were
reported. With regulations the way the are and In the current
climate, however, Canadian glider pilots simply don't fly gliders
cross the border any more.
John Foster
When I look on the SSA "Where to Fly" page, there are no glider operations/clubs listed for this area currently. The only one listed is in Bozeman, which is about a 4hr drive from here. Does anyone know if any of these operations listed above in this thread are still operational? I'll have to try and contact them and see.
ronald...@gmail.com
http://www.ssa.org/OpText.asp?site=254
Looks like he operates out of Hamilton at least part of the year.
Might be worth a call.
Good luck with your quest.
RC