While most visitors to the valley come on the blacktop, this summer there will be a strong contingent coming from the air.
From August 14-17, Don and Carol Ostergard will be using the valley to host The Great Dinosaur Valley Fly-in of 2014.
The Ostergards are members of the International Comanche Society. This is a group of enthusiasts of the Piper Comanche. This aircraft, produced from 1958 to 1972, has garnered a great following. Don says he expects about 30 to fly-in this summer to celebrate the plane and the valley.
The couple has owned a 1959 Comanche for 35 years and are among the 2,000-plus members of the society. They introduced the Great Dinosaur Fly-in at the Society’s Annual meeting in Seattle last summer, and received a positive response from members in Ontario and Western Canada, all the way to the US West Coast, Texas, Arizona and the mid west.
The couple hosted a similar event in Drumheller in 1987 and had about 25 planes and 60 people. There were more planes from California than all of Canada. They also organized a fly-in to Yellowknife about four years ago.
They are aiming for a similar turnout as the previous events and have an agenda which includes visits to the Tyrrell, a local Hutterite colony, a barbecue at the Ostergard’s and a banquet at the Badlands Community Facility.
Don and Carol Ostergard’s 1959 Piper Comanche. They are planning a Comanche Fly-in this August and expect about 30 planes.
“Drumheller has numerous other attractions but the logistics of unleashing great numbers of people on the area can be overwhelming,” said Don. “So we are encouraging our people to spend an extra day or two in the area to enjoy the other delights on their own.”
He says a report will appear in the society’s magazine, which is circulated worldwide.
He said they personally know many of the members of the club, so they expect a good turn out.
Don says there is good potential for air tourism in Drumheller. The Valley has a good airport and there are all the services needed such as restaurants and lodging.
“North America is full of organizations like the International Comanche Society with members who are looking for interesting places to fly,” said Don.