The NV25 2022 Plan

updated 2022-05-07

The NV25 2022 Plan

The core objective of Northern Venture 25 (NV25) is to commemorate the efforts of the team which participated in the original Exercise Northern Venture by flying five of the original Canadian legs of the adventure on the 25^th anniversary of the original task.  Subject to weather and serviceability the plan is to fly one of the original two aircraft (Chipmunk T.10 WP833) along five of the original legs, on the 25^th anniversary dates of those legs, using the original ONC (1:1 000 000) charts and Garmin GNC 250 for navigation.  In addition, the pilot will be wearing an original ‘ATW’ flight suit (with patches) and helmet given to him by one of the two pilots of WP833, the late Sqn Ldr Bill Purchase.

(ForeFlight is intended to be used only as a pre-flight planning and airfield info source and as the emergency stand-by nav source.)

If all goes according to plan, those flights will be executed on June 24^th to June 28^th inclusive.  The 1997 team had the benefit of a 24 Imperial gallon auxiliary tank installed in the rear cockpit, allowing legs of up to 5hrs to be flown.  Although WP833’s aux. tank is still with her it is not and will not be installed.  Therefore each leg executed in 1997 will in 2022 require one or two mid-sector refuelings.  These additional stops will of course add time to the overall duration of each leg, increasing the challenge and no doubt the potential for weather or maintenance delays.  Much like the original exercise’s lengthy sectors, many of the commemorative legs will themselves necessitate a conscious ‘point of no return’ decision to be taken, given the paucity of airfields during the first two sectors.

An Oshkosh stop was planned for the 1996 trip, continuing then to Downsview, but timing in 1997 saw the team passing directly through Canada at least a month early and an Oshkosh stop therefore never happened. So, a secondary objective of Northern Venture 25 will be to fly from Downsville (with Toronto City/Billy Bishop as the designated alternative should Downsview not be available) to Oshkosh.  Whilst this route will be less faithful to any original route, because of the necessity to re-enter the USA at a designated Airport of Entry which requires a significant diversion from the direct route it will adopt the original course prior to crossing Lake Michigan, weather permitting – as ever.

Looking for Wingmen (or women!)

Since this time around WP833’s sister-ship won’t be available to take part I’m looking for company to fly alongside me, if anyone wishes to fly Wing (or even Lead) on legs which are convenient for them. I’ve already happily accepted some offers but am keen to get additional friends to join in, especially along the Canadian routes eastbound from Prince Albert.

The first three days out of Flabob had the great company of WG430, flown by Steve Randal (a.k.a. ‘Chippie Driver).

Further company will be welcome at any time, Chipmunks especially so – all you have to do is be able to fly at 90 knots! If you’re interested please contact me, and if you’re not sure how to do that please send an email to NV25th@WP833-LLC.aero, with the subject line ‘Wing’ .

Planning

To maximize the chances of this happening WP833 went through her annual ahead of schedule (March instead of June) and departed Flabob (KRIR – Riverside, Southern California) on May 1^st.  This stage (brilliantly called ‘Stage I’) saw entry into Canada and arrival at Oliver on May 4^th.  This was intended to allow for any technical troubles to be resolved before attempting Stage II on the anniversary dates, and appears to have proven fortuitous.

Stage II will commence with ’833 positioning to Prince Albert in readiness for initiating the commemorative legs on June 24^th.

The five commemorative legs will see WP833 arriving at Rockcliffe on June 28^th (again, it must be stressed, subject to continuing aircraft serviceability and favourable weather, which certainly had their influence upon the dates actually achieved in 1997).  A brief few days with friends at Rockcliffe and Gatineau will then have ’833 re-positioned to for about four weeks.

Stage III will commence with a departure from the Ottawa area (perhaps even from Downsview) for Oshkosh.  The initial part of that route will deviate significantly from the 1996 planned direct KOSH – CYZD, partly because of the limited availability of US Airfields of Entry and also because of the PIC’s whimsical nature.  However, the final leg is planned to follow, in reverse and in part, the proposed 1996 route outbound from Oshkosh – straight across Lake Michigan.  This year’s effort will have the opportunity of having extensive overland track during which to make height, providing for maximum glide range and minimum ‘out of range of land’ time whilst crossing the lake, should the anticipated ’auto-rough’ become real. Re-entry into the US at a port-of-entry requires significant variance with the true great circle route out of Downsview.

The return from Oshkosh to home base (Stage IV) is not planned but is anticipated to be initially via South Dakota (company outbound from Oshkosh is guaranteed), with the rest of the route home determined on a day-to-day basis.  But keep checking the Blog, which will keep you abreast of progress from hereon out.

Here’s the complete route – the really long legs are those still not planned in detail, but no, we shan’t be taking the Rockies head-on! It may look like a lot, but it’s really just a string of max 2 hour hops.

Stage I

Here is the actual route flown from Flabob (CA, USA) to Oliver (BC, CAN).

Date (planned)	Airfield (landing)	Notes
05-01		Depart KRIR – Flabob
“ ”	KWJF – General Wm J Fox Airfield
“ ”	O32 – Reedley
“ ”	O22 – Columbia
“ ”	KLHM – Lincoln.	RON
05-02	KLHM – Lincoln	Photoshoot, then RTB
“ ”	KLHM – Lincoln	RTB for operational reason
“ ”	KAUN – Auburn	Positioning.	RON
05-03	KRBL – Red Bluff
“ ”	O46 – Weed	It’s OK, it’s legal!
“ ”	S03 – Ashland Muni / Sumner Park Field (Oregon).	RON
05-04	S30 – Lebanon State
“ ”	KELN – Bowers / Elensburgh (Washington)
“ ”	CYYF – Penticton	CIS – CAN entry
“ ”	CAU3 – Oliver	Staging post
05-09		Commercial home

Stage II – Commemorative Northern Venture sectors

This is the planned route from Oliver (BC, CAN) to the start of the five commemorative sectors, and afterwards to a planned stay Hamilton/York area. Airfields which are along the original 1997 legs are highlighted yellow on black background, with the 1997 start / end points expressed in bold – these being Prince Albert, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Downsview and Rockcliffe.

The image below shows the proposed commemorative route, the 1997 points of landing being the yellow/black-bordered points, with this year’s required additional fuel stops in blue. Fortunately, in 1997 they weren’t too keen to undertake long over-water legs, so the route CYQT – CYAM – CYZD is conveniently via suitable refueling stops.

Stage III – Ontario To OSH

This is the planned route from CWHM, Hamilton (ON, CAN) to Oshkosh (WI, USA).

Date (planned)	Airfield (landing)	Notes
07-19		Commercial, to CYYZ
07-20		Prep / contingency
07-21	CYCE – Centralia
“ ”	CYXU – London
“ ”	KPHN – St. Clair County	CBP – US re-entry
“ ”	KRQB – Roben-Hood
07-22	KOSH – Oshkosh	WarBird Arrival for AirVenture 2022

Stage IV – Getting Home

The route from Oshkosh back to Flabob is not planned and will probably only be planned a day or so in advance: the only objective will be a safe return home. At this stage it is anticipated that we (WP833 and some company) will strike out towards South Dakota then work our way south-west.