The Drumheller Flying Club met on Wednesday, 13 March to resurrect the club. In total, they had a list of 24 interested members and 16 members in attendance last week.
The organizers stress that you don’t need to be a pilot to be a member of the flying club. You just need to have an interest in aviation.
The plan is to meet quarterly and to work on various projects at the airport and focus on aviation education and advocacy. The cost to join is $100 per year.
The plan for 2024 is for the Club to hold a pancake breakfast up at the Airport, for pilots and locals, and to create a sortie,an opportunity for pilots and passengers to fly together in loose formation with a similar destination in mind. The club has also engaged a regional flying school to encourage them to have a sub-base in Drumheller.
There will be some social opportunities available for pilots and aviation enthusiasts to get together throughout the year, go for introductory flights and help around the airport.
Drumheller has an amazing airport, with a newly paved $1.5 million runway with the addition of new runway lighting.
Drumheller‘s airport terminal is in great shape, and the group will seek to find grant opportunities for exterior siding and upgraded windows in future years.
Interim Club President Pat Bonneville said “it was encouraging to see the turn out on by just having a couple of interested parties spreading the word that we were going to get together. The club's goals are to assist members in achieving their personal aviation goals while giving back to the community."
For more information, to become a member of the flying club or information on how you get your pilot license, you can email FlyDrumheller@gmail.com, phone Pat Bonneville at 403-820-4349 or Bob Sheddy at 403-324-2222.

The Hussar Historical Society (HHS) asked Wheatland County Council at the Tuesday, March 12 Special Council Meeting, for a letter of support to submit with their grant applications, for their Centennial Project for 2028.

  The HHS has partnered with the Hussar Lions Club to create a plan for a free-standing elevator in Hussar’s east end at the entrance to the Village. The size of the elevator will be approximately 30 feet by 40 feet, by 50 feet tall. It will promote the history and the significance of the grain history to the community, and act as a rest stop, with public washrooms and a historical walk around courtyard. There will also be a picnic area and a fenced-in area for dogs.

    The Village of Hussar has shown their support of the project and approvals have been received from Alberta Transportation and Palliser Planning.

    In a letter to Peter Sanden of the HHS, John Houseman with Heavy™️, the Calgary based company overseeing the development of the project, provided the Grain Elevator Schematic Package. 

    “The proposed feature offers an engaging element for the residents and visitors of Hussar and an elegant homage to the historic, ever-present prairie grain elevator. We have worked to balance aesthetics, longevity, maintenance and cost,” states Houseman. “We look forward to reviewing this package with you and are excited to move into turning the Hussar Grain Elevator feature into a reality.”

    The grant, if awarded to the HHS, will be used toward the construction part of the project.