Discover the Lighter Side of Aviation at the 2022 UPAC Convention!
After the COVID lock-downs of the past two years, we’re all looking for good news and we have some! After the cancelled 2020 convention and the abbreviated 2021 convention, the 2022 National Convention of the Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada will be held as usual on the third weekend of August.
Location: Lubitz Field (CLB2) located in southern Ontario, southwest of Kitchener/Waterloo.
Time: Activities begin on Friday evening August 19 and continue until noon Sunday, August 21.
Exhibitors: Exhibit space is free and under cover in a T-Hangar. The 10’ x 10’ space includes a table and two chairs. We ask exhibitors to donate a prize for draw ticket sales for which help cover expenses. If you are interested in exhibiting, contact upacconventions@gmail.com
As of July 19, the following will have a booth at the convention:
Icom Canada Icom Hand-held Radio
Aircraft Spruce Gift Certificate
Rotac Repair Hats
Zenair & Aircraft Mfg Floats Gift Certificate, Demo Flight
Fly360 Tactical Flight Computer Flight Computer
CASAIR Gift Certificate
Skyward Balloons Balloon Ride
Lost Aviator Coffee Specialty Coffee
Aerotrike Aviation Demo Flight in Delta Wing Trike
Fisher Flying Products Gift Certificate Towards Flight Training
Hammond Aviation Pilot Bag
Kangook Paramotors (RSULTRA inc.) Gift Certificate
A.I.M. for Safety Use of the app for 1 yr.
Transport Canada GA Safety Programme canada.ca/general-aviation-safety
MacPat Rotac Canadian Flag
Gofast Innovations 3 sets of tools
The following supporters will not have a booth but will be around:
Lift Off Aviation Demo Flight
Courtland (Tillsonburg) Flying Club Demo Flight
G1 STOL America Demo Flight
Smart Pilot Gift Certificate
Hamilton Aero Club Flight in a Vintage Plane
Tiger Boys Flying Museum Flight in a Tiger Moth, Ball Caps
Toronto Aerosport Ball Caps
This aviation event is for UPAC members and their invited guests. Not a member? For just $50/yr (taxes included) you can join on the website, or by calling the office (519-684-7628), or in person at the convention.
The Schedule
Official activities start at 5:30pm Friday August 19 th with the Convention Kickoff Chili Supper
Saturday is the big day. Start with breakfast at the Café Les Aries. Then take in a
seminar. These include:
Morning
John Baker of RotacRepair – Rotax Performance & Maintenance.
UL types panel discussion with UL instructors from each type. Bring you questions and comments.
Sandi Odebumni of Sound Insurance – Insurance Information
Afternoon
Michael Heintz of Zenair – Latest Developments at Zenair, and How the Pandemic affected them.
Kevin Brown of A.I.M. for Safety – Mobile app for managing aircraft inspection and maintenance
UPAC.s AGM will start at 3:30 Saturday afternoon. If you are a member and would like
to attend virtually, send an email to klubitz@upac.ca requesting the meeting link.
Sunday morning
Uwe Goehl from Transport Canada will fill us in on the latest from Transport Canada and John Baker from RotacRepair.ca will host a hands-on Rotax carb balancing.
The Prize Draw
The draw for prizes donated by exhibitors, supporters, and others will begin at 12:30 on Saturday. The prize list will be posted Saturday morning and the prizes can be viewed at the east end of the white arch building. You can also get aour draw tickets there.
The deadline to donate a prize is noon on Saturday. All items will be gratefully accepted.
Drop prizes off at the east end of the white arch building where the donor’s name and prize will be added to the list.
Draw tickets will be on sale Friday night and Saturday morning. Get yours early! You must be present to win.
Food
The Café Les Aires will be open Friday night for the Chili Kickoff Supper.
Breakfast is available both Saturday and Sunday morning until 10:30. The Café will close for clean up before opening again at 11 for lunch.
Burgers and hot dogs will be on the lunch menu for both Saturday and Sunday. We won’t have Sammy’s famous schnitzel this year which is unfortunate for us, but good for him (JAZZ called him in to work)
Saturday night supper will be Tony’s Thai Curry Chicken.
Admission
Drive-in or fly-in! There is no charge for visitors, exhibitors or campers; however, donations will be gratefully accepted. These help offset the costs of fuel and maintenance for the chain saws, weed eaters, lawn mowers, propane, tractors, outhouses, etc.
Exhibitors
If you are an exhibitor and are driving in, pick up an envelope at the registration booth. It will have your booth location and unloading and parking instructions.
Location
Lubitz Field (CLB2)is a farm strip located to the west of the Kitchener/Cambridge area of southern Ontario. The farm is about 13 air miles SW of the Waterloo Wellington
Regional Airport (CYKF), about 20 air miles ESE of Stratford Airport (CYSA) and about 16 air miles NNW of Brantford Airport (CYFD). I
CLB2 is about an hour’s drive west of Toronto and about 45 minutes east of London.
GPS Coordinates are N43°18.3’; W80° 32.9’. The mailing address is Bright but the nearest town is Plattsville. The physical address is 907289 Township Rd. #12 in Blandford-Blenheim Township, Oxford County.
Find it on Google Earth by typing in ‘907289 Township Rd. 12, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.’ If you have ‘places’ enabled you should see a little airplane symbol at the airstrip. The name will be Lubitz Field CLB2 or Plattsville Aerodrome.
Flying in
CLB2 is open for normal operations during the convention. Use proper circuit procedures at all times. Field elevation is 980 ft ASL Circuit are left-hand and circuit height for ultralights is 500 ft AGL and 1,000 ft AGL for conventional aircraft. Adjust approach speed to fit in.
The east-west grass runway is 1,980 ft. long and 80 ft. wide with clear approaches. There is a parallel taxiway south of the runway. South of that (from west to east) there is a large rectangular hangar, a white fabric arch, and two rows of T-hangars; this where exhibitors will be. All buildings have white roofs.
There are three non-standard wind socks. One on the north side of the T-hangar row; one on top of the large rectangular hangar, and the last one at the NE corner of the fenced pasture. There will also be Canadian flags ‘blowin’ in the wind’ at various locations on the grounds.
The field UNICOM is unmanned. IF you want to broadcast position reports or monitor traffic the frequency 123.2. Be aware that 5 other frequencies are in use in the area. Do not assume that everyone is on your frequency and that they can hear you and don’t assume you can hear everyone else.
As well, there will be many NORDO pilots flying in who will not hear your broadcast.
Keep a sharp look out for other aircraft at all times! It’s a “see and be seen” situation!
Proper circuit procedures are important, especially at high traffic times like you’ll find during the convention.
Bring your own tie downs. Also bring your own two-stroke oil. We can supply auto gasoline on request, but there is no aviation fuel.
If you are coming from the northeast, be aware that the Waterloo International Airport Control Zone is Class C; you need a functioning Mode C transponder as well as a radio to enter the control zone. With no transponder, you will have to go around or above the Control Zone. The Control Zone extends upwards to 3,000 ft AGL; you’ll need to be higher than that to get over it. Be aware that there is also transponder airspace at 6,500 ft. AGL and above.
The Waterloo Wellington Flying Club has a practice area overhead. Keep a good look out. Students and instructors will be focusing on their maneuvers, and not necessarily looking out the window.
Cautions:
There may be balloon launches from the airfield in the early morning or evening. And …
Foot-launched powered paragliders may be operating in the early mornings and evenings
Driving in
from the EAST…
Take the 401 west to exit #268 – Plattsville and Ayr. At the light, turn left and follow Cedar Creek Rd (also called regional road 97/Oxford Rd. 8) towards Plattsville. At the third crossroad, (Blenheim Rd.), turn left. At the next corner, turn right onto Township Road 12, a gravel road. Go roughly a mile (1.5 km) where you will cross an iron bridge.
As you come off the bridge, the driveway is on the right.
from the WEST…
Take the 401 east to exit 250 and go to Drumbo. At the 4-way stop in the middle of Drumbo, turn left towards Washington (County Rd 3). Go over the bridge over the 401 and the bridge over the Nith River. Turn right onto Township Rd. 12, which is a gravel road. Go about two miles (3 km) to an iron bridge. The driveway is on the left just before the bridge.
from the SOUTH…
Take the 403 west past Brantford to the exit for Brant Country Road 25 and go right. At the ‘T’ intersection, turn left and then take the first right onto County Road 3 to Princeton. Continue north to Drumbo. At the 4-way stop in Drumbo, go straight ahead towards Washington (County Rd 3). Go past the bridge over the 401 and the bridge over the Nith River. Turn right at Township Rd. 12; this is a gravel road. Go about 2 (3 km) miles to an iron bridge. Just before the bridge, you’ll see the driveway on the left.
from the NORTH…
From highways 7 and 8, take the exit for New Dundee. Go straight through the 4 way stop in town to a T-intersection, turn right onto Waterloo-Oxford Rd. Then turn left onto the Blenheim Rd. Go across Cedar Creek Rd. At the next intersection, turn right onto Township Road 12. This is a gravel road. Go roughly another mile (1.5km) where you will cross an iron bridge. As you come off the bridge, the driveway is on the right.
Camping
Camping for motorhomes, RVs, and tents is free – donations appreciated! Come early and help with convention preparations or use the airfield as a base to explore the region.
Conditions are “primitive” which means no running water or hydro … only outhouses.
There are no hookups and no pump out facilities. Fill your water tanks before you arrive.
The main camping area is an open field on high and dry ground west of the UPAC Headquarters building. Bring your own shade!
Because of the very dry conditions this year, fires will not be allowed.
Keep late night and early morning noise to a minimum to make everyone’s stay more comfortable. Shut down generators between 9 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Remember to bring insect repellent and sunscreen!
Treat the campgrounds as though they were your own backyard. Pick up any trash you find, even if it’s not yours.
Under-Wing Camping
There are new hangars in the area where under-wing camping has been . This year, all planes will be parked in one area. You can pitch your tent under your wing there or we can take you and your gear to the drive-in camping area.
After shut down, please check in with pilot registration and get an up-to-date schedule for the weekend and please make a donation to help cover expenses.
Other Accommodation
There is no official convention hotel. Check the internet for information on accommodations located in or near Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or Woodstock.
Pets
Pets are allowed but they must be leashed at all times. Dogs running loose can disturb convention attendees. It is your responsibility to make sure your pet does not disturb others. Remember to stoop and scoop.
Local Attractions
For the non-aviation minded, the convention site (or a local hotel) can be used as a baseto explore Waterloo Region and Oxford County. Check in advance for any you might be interested in.
There are Farmers’ Markets in nearby Cambridge, Kitchener, St. Jacobs, and Woodstock on Saturday. They usually open early and close around noon, the exception being the St. Jacobs Farmers Market which is open until 2 p.m.
For the history buff, Doon Pioneer Village and the Joseph Schneider Hause, both in Kitchener, have weekend activities that take you back to when the area was first settled by Mennonites from Pennsylvania.
Enjoy a drive through Mennonite country. See the last remaining covered bridge in Ontario in West Montrose.
The St. Jacobs Farmers Market and Outlet Stores are just north of Waterloo. There are a number of regional shopping malls and several ‘big box’ centers in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Woodstock. Recreational activities are available at Bingaman’s. Nearby YMCA locations are in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and Woodstock.
Oxford County is noted for its farms and agricultural products. There are ‘pick your own’ farms if you are interested in picking fruits and vegetables. There are farmers markets for those who want to buy fruits and vegies already picked.
See www.tourismoxford.ca For more information about what is available locally, check out the web sites for the
surrounding areas:
Cambridge, www.cambridgetourism.com
Kitchener/Waterloo,
www.explorewaterlooregion.com
St. Jacobs, Ontario (Mennonite Country)
www.stjacobs.com and www.woolwich.ca;
Brantford, Ontario www.visitbrantford.ca
and Woodstock www.cityofwoodstock.ca
See you Soon!