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Challenger Rendez-Vous attracts dozens to frozen Ottawa River

By Ben Sclair · February 16, 2015 ·

The 25th Annual Challenger Winter Rendez-Vous should have a been a blow-out event. But Jan. 30-Feb. 1 temperatures in the -20°C range kept many would-be attendees home. A hardy gathering of 37 aircraft (15 Challenger ultralights and 22 other types), all on skis, landed on the frozen Ottawa River at the Fairmount Le Château Montebello.

Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Challengers at Château Montebello, Montebello, Quebec. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.

In all, more than 100 attended the annual Rendez-Vous. The event is organized by Claude Roy and Bryan Quickmire for the Canadian Challenger Owners Association.

Quad City Challenger II and an Antonov AN-2. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Quad City Challenger II and an Antonov AN-2. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.

More than Challengers

Zlin Savage. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Zlin Savage. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Aerostar Festival R40 FSD. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Aerostar Festival R40 FSD. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Kitfox Model IV. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Kitfox Model IV. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Cessna 180J. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Cessna 180J. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Van’S RV-8. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Van’s RV-8. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Antonov AN-2. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.
Antonov AN-2. Photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Bonin.

See more of Jean-Pierre Bonin’s pictures from Montebello 2015 at Flickr.

About Ben Sclair

Ben Sclair is the Publisher of General Aviation News, a pilot, husband to Deb and dad to Zenith, Brenna, and Jack. Oh, and a staunch supporter of general aviation.

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