Civil Cessna lands at Alert to celebrate flight centennial

[teacher]

Civilian Cessna lands at Alert to celebrate flight centennial
Written by Holly Bridges - Canada's Air Force
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Gerd Wengler and his wife, Dorothy, of Burlington, Ontario have done what only a handful of civilian pilots in Canada have ever done. They have landed their small aircraft at Canadian Forces Station Alert, a Canadian Forces signals intelligence intercept facility located in Nunavut on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island, and the most northerly inhabited place on earth.

The pair landed their Cessna 182 small aircraft after making the cross-Canada trek last week from Pelee Island, Ontario (Canada’s most southerly point) to Alert in just over four days, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada.

“Oh my gosh it felt really good,” said Mr. Wengler from Norway after leaving CFS Alert. “It was the most demanding landing of my career as a pilot.”

Mr. Wengler tried twice to land as he battled rain, fog and a high of only 20C. Finally he landed on the austere gravel runway at Alert, greeted by Commanding Officer Major Sylvain Giguère and several Air Force members posted to the remote location.

“As we welcome them to Alert, we could see they were proud of their achievement,” said Major Sylvain Giguère. “We, on the other hand, were thrilled that Alert could be part of the (100th anniversary of flight) celebration.”

The pair toured the facility, shopped at the local gift shop and enjoyed a box lunch with staff.

“Everyone was so kind to us, we shook so many hands I can’t even remember. It was so amazing and beautiful there. My wife and I still can’t believe we made it,” said Mr. Wengler referring to the two years of planning it took to coordinate the trip.

Mr. Wengler realizes how rare it is for a civilian pilot to be given permission to land at CFS Alert, which is why he planned the trip so meticulously in advance, even carrying his own fuel from stop to stop in order to remain completely self-sufficient. He was determined to make the trip in honour of the 100th anniversary of flight in Canada and to draw attention to the opportunities that aviation has created for our country.

“It’s amazing how far we’ve come in aviation and how much we take for granted when we get into a big airplane and just fly somewhere. Nobody ever thinks about this, but it is absolutely amazing.

“I must say I feel very special about the freedom that aviation has given us so that we can actually go so easily where nobody else can go. I feel very privileged and very special that we in our little plane can be part of it. Thank you to everyone in the Canadian Forces for helping to make this dream a reality for my wife and I.”

http://memorial.aviation.ca/content/view/7761/117/

[Invertago]

Cool trip.

My wife and I still can’t believe we made it

Can't say I've ever taken off on a trip where I didn't feel pretty strongly that I'd 'make it' in the end.

[randallg]

I want more details. What's the procedure for getting permission to land in Alert? Where did he stop for fuel? Did he use ferry tanks? What's he doing in Norway now??? Can a Cardinal RG do this?

[Invertago]

Sounded like ferry tanks for the most part.


If you like that kinda flight... and it is hard not to...

http://www.earthrounders.com/

Have at 'er

[MrWings]

Mr. Wengler tried twice to land as he battled rain, fog and a high of only 20C.

Sounds like a decent day anywhere in Canada, let alone the high Arctic.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Mr. Wengler tried twice to land as he battled rain, fog and a high of only 20C.

At least whoever wrote that didn't get real descriptive and say his skillful efforts prevented the airplane from plunging out of control into the ground.

I am thinking of offering a preventing plunging course.

[just curious]

Norway probably equals Svalbad

[Jastapilot]

What? No air pockets to contend with? Pussy.

[Siddley Hawker]

... and a high of only 20C.

Does David Suzuki know about this?