White Rock Sun Century Flight Report
Exclusively to The White Rock Sun
Larry Anschell
THE SUN is always out
Stage 7
July 27th, 2009 Leg #7
The final leg of our 4000+ mile journey would be from Fredericton, NB to Sydney,
NS, a relatively short hop of 300 nautical miles.
Gathering at the airport early we were all anxious to complete our pilgrimage
from the Pacific to the Atlantic, but we were also very fogged in. Without a
cloud ceiling of at least 1000 ft. the airport would not allow us to take off.
Compounding our weather problems were a pair of storms moving through our path
of Moncton, NB a couple hours apart. If we could just time our departure right
and fly the gap between storms...this became the plan among at least thirty
pilots. Our window opened up around 2:30 when the airport cloud ceiling lifted
and once again there was a quick scramble to line up and take off.
At first flying through the misty soup, once past Moncton the weather cleared
enough to enjoy the beautiful coastlines of Nova Scotia and Cape Bretan Island.
On the way into the final destination of Sydney I flew past Baddeck, where on
the frozen lake of Bras D'Or 100 years ago the first powered flight in Canada
took place. I couldnt help but to think how lucky I am to live in this age of
flying machines.
Landing a few miles from Baddeck in Sydney everyone had to deal with a serious
crosswind landing but within a couple hours the airport was full of relieved
pilots. We made it!
Not all planes came in however. Due to the delicate timing of the weather, five
or six planes were delayed overnight.
The next day we were bused back to Braddeck to visit the Alexander Graham Bell
museum and have our closing ceremonies.
I'm proud to have been a part of such a great group of pilots. With a shared
enthusiasm for aviation and a great camaraderie, we worked together and overcame
substantial adversities.
ANSCHELL(centre) and fellow pilots safe on the ground
I'd like to give John Lovelace and everyone on his crew my sincere thanks for
initiating, organizing, and executing such a massive undertaking. It was a trip
that many said couldn't be done.
There will be three one-hour documentaries put together from over 60 hours of
footage shot. Stay Tuned.
For the White Rock Sun,
over and out,
Larry Anschell
Stage 6 - Brampton, Ontario to Fredricton, New Brunswick
July 25th, leg #6
Map check prior to yesterday's flight. All 15 feet of maps. No
chance to spread them out like this in the plane.
Brampton, ON to Fredericton, NB
Today's flight would be the longest of our cross-Canada journey, 586 nautical
miles leaving Ontario, crossing Quebec and Maine, and landing in New Brunswick.
The first half of the trip is flying Northeast along the international border
following the North shore of Lake Ontario on up the St. Lawrence River. This
puts Ontario outside the left window and New York outside the right.
Timing was the issue today with the weather. Just as one storm system was clearing
our route another was sceduled to be moving in on our tail a few hours later.
The window of opportunity was opening and closing soon.
Taking off at 10am it was back into the foggy soup. Fortunately throughout Ontario
air traffic control was able to provide "flight following" to alert
all planes if they were in conflict as it was far to misty for comfort.
Once outside of the Toronto area I was able to climb up high to 7500 where it
was clear and sunny.
The fuel stop 3.5 hours later was Sherbrooke, QC and decending down I was amazed
at the countryside...lush, picturesqe farms one after another.
At Sherbrooke most of the Century Flight planes had gathered and the big question
was whether or not there would be a clear route to continue on to Fredericton.
The choice was either up and around Maine or direct through, which had mountain
regions to contend with. Neither weather picture looked good from the limited
reports we had.
Many of us took off with the understanding we may have to return if things were
too bleak, but it was a relatively safe decision with full fuel.
Luck was on my side, as I climbed up to 9500 ft I found a trough of scattered
clouds in the same direction of my route, opening up my visual to the ground
for safe VFR flight.
Scooping back below the clouds 75 miles out from Fredericton I was back into
dodging rain showers.
Down at the airport there seemed to be less Century Flight planes in attendance
but I haven't heard the tally yet for how many of us were able to get through.
Total time in the air today 5.5 hours.
Welcome To Freddie Beach
Next flight to Sydney, NS on Monday.
Stage 5 - Sault St. Marie - Brampton, Ontario
White Rock Sun Century Flight Report
July 24th - Sault Ste. Marie to Brampton
takeoff - 11:50 landing - 14:50
might be an idea to go around this one
Another day in the soup, so they say. Although our trip to Brampton started
off in the sun, by the time we were a few miles East clouds began building and
by Sudbury were quite thick.
The original plan was to fly down the islands through Gore Bay and Wiarton,
but the weather scrapped that scenic wonderland. Flying around the Georgian
Bay instead of through it added another half hour to the flight and was the
only possible route.
Georgian Bay
Many planes chose to fly under the clouds today and were forced to a very low
altitude with radio towers and rising elevations to sweat over. As I hung back
listening to the radio calls I decided to stay at 5500 ft as long as possible.
This brought me most of the way until popping down between clouds around Edenvale
to finish the trip at 2500 ft.
After landing and while securing the plane I first received a shower of hail,
then was baked in the sun, then completely drenched in torrential rain, all
in about twenty minutes! This weather here is crazy.
 
The Brampton Flying Club put on a great reception and spread for dinner.
Today's trip is a long one covering three provinces and a State. We'll be leaving
Ontario, stopping in Quebec for fuel, flying over Maine in the good ol' USA
before arriving in Fredericton, MB.
May the weather Gods be smiling down upon us.
Stage 5 (suspended) Sault St. Marie - Brampton, Ontario
July 23, 2009
A pilot's worst enemy, fog over THE SOO
July 23rd (Thursday A.M.)
This morning we gathered in the hotel lobby to come to a group decision regarding
the adverse weather conditions on route and John Lovelace anounced the result,
we'll stay GROUNDED.
What was scheduled to be our 5th leg to Brampton, ON today turned into a day
of sight seeing in The Soo. Our cross Canada trip has weather days built into
the schedule and today we cashed one in. Leaving tomorrow morning we'll now
spend one day in Brampton instead of two.
There's a last minute banquet and talent show thrown together for tonight, anybody
have a guitar?
Stage 4 Marathon, ON- Saulte St. Marie Ontario - July 22
Today our route followed the Northeast shoreline of Lake Superior
from Marathon down through Wawa and then to Sault Ste. Marie. A relatively short
trip of 168 nautical miles.
is that the outline of a maple leaf?
Reputed as one of the most scenic legs of our trip, today it wasn't to be. Although
the flying was smooth there was a heavy mist, not thick enough to limit flying,
just enough to limit the views. Thankfully as I neared Sault Ste. Marie there
was some clearing and very cool points of inerest.
the shoreline of the mighty Lake Superior
I touched down at 12:05 to finish the two hour trip. As has been the case in
all our stops, the airport staff is doing a great job of keeping all our planes
organized and fueled up.
Later in the afternoon we were treated to a warm reception at the Canadian Bushplane
Heritage Centre where a replica of the Silver Dart, the plane that started it
all 100 years ago, hung high from the rafters.
Safe on the ground in The Soo
A group of planes have now fallen behind our progress as yesterday's challenging
weather held back seven or eight in Dryden.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, our 5th leg to Brampton, ON.
The plane that started it all - Silver Dart
Stage 3 Brandon to Marathon, Ontario - July 21
Although we were blessed by great weather on the first two legs
of our trip, today would be a game changer and put our group to the test.
Today's route for me was planned to depart Brandon to a fuel stop in Dryden,
Ontario, then on to Marathon for a 540 nautical mile trip.
Arriving at the airport we all knew the weather would be sketchy today, and
the consensus of the group was to fly East to Kenora and regroup, as beyond
the clouds were below VFR (visual flight rules) minima.
Departing at 8:30 I landed in Kenora two hours later with a pow wow already
in progress. Everyone was gathered waiting for the latest weather report out
of Dryden, just a half hour further East. The cloud ceiling was lifting slowly
and once 1200 ft was reported many were ready to try their luck even if it meant
a scud run (squeaking under the clouds) through this relatively flat terrain
and onward Eastbound to clearer weather.
I received a weather briefing with Flight Service and it was recommended to
head North of Dryden up to Sioux Lookout before making a bee line to Thunder
Bay.
On the way to Sioux Lookout I dodged many isolated showers which are easy to
see pouring out of mature cumulous
clouds. Once on route to Thunder Bay the weather deteriorated fast and soon
I had to admit defeat and head back to Dryden, which was now relatively clear.
I was joined by the rest of the group who all had to turn back as well and soon
we all descended on Dryden. After an hour John Lovelace decided to test the
Eastern skies in his Navajo and radio back a report. Word came back that we
could pass at 3500 ft. and there was an immediate scramble as everyone manned
their planes.
(in line for a quick departure)
At the same time some very dark and ominous clouds were slowly drifting from
the West. As I waited my turn in line for the active runway these clouds thundered
and released a torrential downpour. Fortunately these micro-bursts don't last
long and a few minutes later the rain lightened as the energy dissipated. However,
low clouds and mist were now bringing down the ceiling and we required special
VFR clearance to depart.
Now on a direct route to Marathon and up until the Northern tip of Lake Superior,
visibility was poor and ceilings remained low. Many of us kept in radio contact
and worked as a group to send weather reports back down the line.
"Landing in Marathon at 5:45 (now 6:45) after logging six challenging hours
of flying,I learned quite a bit today beyond which my previous fair-weather
flying could teach."
Hello Ontario
Stage 2 - Calgary to Brandon, July 19th
For the next leg of the trip I'm joined by my good friend George Stonier, a
fellow pilot and wiz navigator in the right seat.
Our planned route today is from Springbank to Medicine Hat, a short stop for
fuel in Swift Current, then on to Regina and finally Brandon, Manitoba. A total
of 570 nautical miles.
Arriving at the Springbank Airport most pilots this morning have elected to
have their planes towed off the grass parking courtesy of roving ATV's.
Some planes have hit some sticky mud including John Lovelace's Piper Navajo.
We've also been warned of the danger of a prop strike when starting a roll on
uneven grass.
 
Lunch in Speedy Creek & Chaplin Lake - Saskatchewan
Taking off at 8:45 and heading to Medicine Hat I quickly discovered the flat
and featureless qualities of the Prairies. Without the lakes, rivers and forests
I'm used to in BC, on into Saskatchewan the Prairies looked to be an endless
grid of multi-colored farms. Unfortunately we had a hazy day flying at 9500
ft so we didn't see the endless sky stretching to all horizons. We did however
have a nice 20 knott tail wind again and made great time to Swift Current landing
at 11:30.
Swift Current had some very swift wind on the ground gusting up to 25 knotts,
but fortunately in line with the active runway. On taking off into the wind
a very light Fleet Canuck almost seemed to hover in mid air.
Wild Brandon skies
Fuelled up again we were off to overfly Regina, crossed the Manitoba border
and had a smooth flight into Brandon landing close to three hours later, with
a total of six hours flight time logged today.
There were hundreds of people gathered at Brandon waving in all Century Flight
planes and again the organization and handling of all the planes for parking
was exceptional.
Next flight Tuesday to Marathon, Ontario.
Stage 1 Friday July 17
Vancouver - Calgary
This morning I took off at 9:05 am with a route planned from Boundary Bay, Hope,
Merritt, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Golden, Banff, and finally Springbank Calgary.
Weather was beautiful, pilots call it CAVOK (ceilings and visibility clear)
and you can't ask for better.
I had originally planned to stop for a break in Kamloops but I had a nice tail
wind, the Cherokee was humming along at 140 mph (ground speed) and the air was
smooth as silk. Why not just barrell ahead?
I radioed Kamloops to alter my flight plan to nix the break and set sights on
Revelstoke.
I had flown over some big rocks before heading East but the Rockies were a whole
new experience. Following the valley at 9500 ft between Revelstoke and Golden
the panorama is incredible and pictures just can't do justice. Around this time
some other Century Flight planes and I were sharing the same bottleneck and
we discussed our positions to ensure ther was no conflict. This is probably
the busiest day in history for valley flights through the Rockies.
Once past Golden onroute to Banff another Cherokee in our group radioed that
he was off track, couldn't give a position report and eventually had to head
back to Golden to get his bearings. These valleys can quickly become confusing.
The air had also become quite choppy with moderate turbulence starting at Golden,
through Banff and didn't subside until Calgary. This made the last hour of the
trip more challenging and breaking out of the mountains for level ground was
a welcome sight!
I touched down at Springbank Airport at 1:05 for a total flight time of four
hours. This is double the longest flight I had made yet, but it went by fast.
This weekend is also the COPA convention at Springbank and the organisation
and marshalling of all the extra planes for parking was supurb.
Next flight on Sunday: Calgary to Brandon, MB
sent from my iphone
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