Aussie Group Flights Team - National Parks Expedition: Canyonlands Adventure

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:brown_square: NATIONAL PARKS EXPEDITION

Canyonlands Adventure – Briefing Card

:world_map: Overview

Canyonlands National Park delivers some of the most dramatic terrain in the American Southwest — deep river‑carved canyons, towering mesas, and complex elevation transitions. This leg emphasises low‑altitude canyon navigation, ridge‑top transitions, and controlled gyrocopter handling across varied terrain.

:airplane: Aircraft

Enclosed‑Cockpit Gyrocopter

  • Ideal for low‑speed canyon exploration

  • Superb visibility for terrain reading

  • Short‑field capability for Rustler Canyon and Mineral Canyon

  • Perfect match for the 78 NM route length

:round_pushpin: Route Summary

Departure: Canyonlands Regional Airport (KCNY)
Arrival: Mineral Canyon Strip (UT75)
Total Distance: 78 NM

Waypoints:

  1. KCNY – Canyonlands Regional Airport

  2. Airport Tower

  3. Monster Tower

  4. Aztec Butt

  5. Junction Butt

  6. Rustler Canyon Airstrip (09UT) – 15‑minute break

  7. Needles District

  8. The Maze

  9. Upheaval Dome

  10. UT75 – Mineral Canyon Strip (Full‑stop landing)

:compass: Navigation Notes

  • Maintain variable altitude between canyon floors and mesa rims

  • Expect strong thermals and cross‑canyon gusts

  • Use terrain shadowing for smoother transitions

  • Gyrocopter rotor inertia allows safe low‑speed ridge crossings

  • Confined turns required in The Maze — maintain rotor clearance

  • Short‑field landing technique recommended at 09UT and UT75

:sun_behind_small_cloud: Weather & Conditions

  • Time: Late afternoon

  • Lighting: Golden‑hour canyon glow

  • Winds: Moderate south‑westerly

  • Visibility: Excellent

:camera_with_flash: Points of Interest

  • Airport Tower

  • Monster Tower

  • Aztec Butt

  • Junction Butt

  • Rustler Canyon (Break Stop)

  • Needles District

  • The Maze

  • Upheaval Dome

  • Green River canyon bends

:airplane_arrival: Arrival Procedure

  • Approach Mineral Canyon Strip from the north‑east canyon corridor

  • Expect elevation drop on final

  • Maintain stable rotor RPM during descent

  • Full‑stop landing for realism and event continuity

:military_medal: Achievement Badge

CANYONLANDS NAVIGATOR
Awarded for completing the Canyonlands Adventure with disciplined canyon‑edge navigation, confident low‑speed gyrocopter handling, and safe operations at Rustler Canyon and Mineral Canyon.

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If you are not a member, to join for FREE, click here: Aussie Group Flights Team - On-line Flying

Details to follow. Hope you can join us.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS FOR FLIGHT SIMULATION USE ONLY.

Regards, Paul

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Event: National Parks Expedition: Canyonlands Adventure
Sim: MSFS2024
Aircraft: Gyrocopter
Speed: 50 knots
Server: South East Asia
Sim Time: 7:00am
Route: See attached plan below
Alt: 10,500' for avoiding terrain but mostly fly just above the terrain level.
Start: 03:00z
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Distance: 78nm 


Take off from Canyonlands(KCNY)
Track 177 deg to Airport Tower(WP1) 22nm
Track 251 deg to Monster Tower(WP2) 1.4nm
Track 276 deg to Aztec Butt(WP3) 1,8nm
Track 170 deg to Junction Butt(WP4) 6.7nm
Track 086 deg to Rustler Canyon Airstrip(09UT) 6.8nm
Full Stop Landing at Rustler Canyon Airstrip(09UT) +++ 15 min break +++
Take Off from Rustler Canyon Airstrip(09UT)
Track 205 deg to Needles District(WP5) 8.4nm
Track 272 deg to the Maze(WP6) 8.8nm
Track 005 deg to Upheaval Dome(WP7) 15.3nm
Track 327 deg to Mineral Canyon Strip(UT75) 6.4nm
Full Stop Landing at Mineral Canyon Strip(UT75)

Airport Details:

Canyonlands(KCNY)
Elev: 4,545'
RW 03/21 Asphalt 7,353'
RW 15/33 Asphalt 2,271'

Rustler Canyon Airstrip(09UT)
Elev: 4,662'
RW 14/32 Gravel 1,830'

Mineral Canyon Strip(UT75)
Elev: 2,237'
RW 14/32 Dirt 2,237'
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Flight plans to support the event …

Little NavMap:
VFR Canyonlands (KCNY) to Mineral Canyon Strip (UT75).lnmpln (2.8 KB)

MSFS2024:
VFR Canyonlands (KCNY) to Mineral Canyon Strip (UT75).pln (2.8 KB)

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Event reminder …