Mark Hollon and John Bilsky <<email>> write:

The Riggins Resurrection of 2007 is not dead. The Fun fly last year was attended by some 25 to 30 pilots and is still the talk of the town. This year the event which supports the Riggins Search and Rescue Dive team has been scaled back a bit and Septemberfest will only be held on one night, Saturday August 30th. There will be live music and of course, beer at the city park in the evening.

However just because the city has scaled back on their festivities, this does not mean that the "Resurrection" has done the same. Flying will take place all weekend starting on the 28th of August and will continue through the 1st of September or longer.

And here's the best part. This Fun Fly is totally FREE! Last year it was possible that a few pilots slipped in under the radar so this year we'll make it easy. No registration and no "donations". Pilots are simply encouraged to support Saturday night's festivities in the park.

In order to keep the local school board happy, a waiver needs to be signed in order to land on the school grounds but other than that, the hassle factor is ZERO. Mark will also graciously make available the flat un-green (yes it's been warm here) grassy land behind his business available for camping and RV parking. While there are no hook-ups, there will be running water and a flush toilet available. This area will serve as the meeting place for all pilots and should help to eliminate some of the confusion there was last year.

An evening BBQ is a distinct possibility. Here pilots can participate in story telling, lies and other merriment. Other free camping is available at Shorts Bar on the Salmon River about a mile outside of town. There are also several motels in Riggins for anyone who wishes to have a more cushy bed.

There have been several improvements made to the flying sites over last year.

Without being asked, one of the locals has felled a couple of dead poplar trees on his property. He heard that they were in the way of the south approach to the football field and took it on himself to eliminate them. These people love pilots! Also, the "upper practice field" has been almost totally cleared and this author found the approach to that LZ to be quite easy for a tandem flight he made on the 1st of August. (The Septemberfest organizers have "scheduled" a candy drop by the pilots onto the football field for the mornings of the 30th and 31st for any local kids who show up.)

The Lucile launch will have a much needed ramp completed by the 24th. As anyone who flew Lucile last year knows, the launch is way too steep for a good launch run. The ramp should eliminate that problem.

And for the intrepid, lurking in the wings and waiting for the right conditions is the Seven Devils launch with it's 7 mile sled ride.

For any pilot who wishes to simply relax over the Labor Day weekend and have the possibility of flying as well, a trip to Riggins should be considered. As of this writing the high pressure system and the forest fire smoke that dominated last year's event have not made an appearance and the townsfolk are waiting to see gliders in the sky over Riggins. Come on out and make it happen.

For more information contact Mark Hollon at 208-628-3500 or e-mail <email>.