Aussie Group Flights Team - Scenic Heli: Capitol Reef Adventure

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:brown_square: NATIONAL PARKS EXPEDITION

Capitol Reef Adventure – Briefing Card

:world_map: Overview

Capitol Reef National Park delivers a dramatic blend of sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and the iconic Waterpocket Fold. This leg emphasises terrain reading, canyon‑edge navigation, and controlled low‑altitude manoeuvring in a modern enclosed‑cockpit gyrocopter.

:airplane: Aircraft

AutoGyro‑style enclosed‑cockpit gyrocopter

  • Excellent low‑speed stability

  • Superb visibility for canyon operations

  • Responsive rotor system ideal for confined‑terrain turns

:round_pushpin: Route Summary

  • Departure: Local desert airstrip west of the Reef

  • Transit: Follow the canyon ridgelines south‑east

  • Scenic Pass: Waterpocket Fold sunrise corridor

  • Highlight: Strike Valley Overlook

  • Arrival: Mesa‑top landing zone north of Fruita

:compass: Navigation Notes

  • Maintain 500–800 ft AGL along canyon walls

  • Expect sudden updrafts near cliff faces

  • Use terrain shadowing to manage turbulence

  • Gyrocopter rotor inertia allows safe low‑speed ridge crossings

  • Avoid deep slot canyon penetration — limited escape vectors

:sun_behind_small_cloud: Weather & Conditions

  • Time: Early morning

  • Lighting: Warm sunrise glow across canyon edges

  • Winds: Light southerly with intermittent gusts

  • Visibility: Excellent

:camera_with_flash: Points of Interest

  • Waterpocket Fold

  • Strike Valley Overlook

  • Navajo Sandstone cliffs

  • Golden canyon floor textures

  • High‑contrast mesa formations

:airplane_arrival: Arrival Procedure

  • Approach from the north‑east ridge

  • Maintain steady rotor RPM during descent

  • Expect mild crosswind on final

  • Full‑stop landing for realism and event continuity

:military_medal: Achievement Badge

Awarded for completing the Capitol Reef Adventure with stable canyon‑edge navigation and controlled gyrocopter handling.

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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: Scenic Heli: Capitol Reef Adventure
Sim: MSFS2024
Aircraft: Gyrocopter
Speed: 50 knots
Server: South East Asia
Sim Time: 6:00am
Route: See attached plan below
Alt: 10,500' for avoiding terrain but mostly fly just above the terrain level.
Start: 20:00z
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Distance: 76nm 


Take off from Wayne Wonderland(38U)
Track 134 deg to Freemont River(WP1)
Follow river from WP1 thru WP35 Keep as close to the river as possible.
Track 356 deg to Off Field Landing(WP36) 0.4nm
Full Stop Landing at Off Field Landing(WP36) +++ 15 min break +++
Take Off from Off Field Landing(WP36)
Track 347 deg to Cathedral Valley(WP37) 5.6nm
Track 276 deg to Temple of the Moon(WP38) 2.5nm
Track 343 deg to Temple of the Sun(WP39)
Track 281 deg to Cathedral Valley(WP40) 2.5nm
Track 155 deg to Jailhouse Rock(WP41) 4nm
Track 139 deg to Nortom Rd(WP42) 8.3nm
Track 066 deg to Giles Point(WP43) 5.4nm
Track 025 deg to Town Point(WP44) 1.7nm
Track 076 deg to Cain Point(WP45) 2.6nm
Track 055 deg to Hanksville(KHVE) 12.4nm
Full Stop Landing at Hanksville(KHVE)

Airport Details:

Wayne Wonderland(38U)
Elev: 7,024'
RW 13/31 Bituminous 5,890'

Hanksville(KHVE)
Elev: 4,430'
RW 09/27 Bituminous 4,958'
RW 17/35 Dirt 4,782'
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Flight plans to support the event …

Little NavMap:
VFR Wayne Wonderland (38U) to Hanksville (KHVE).lnmpln (8.6 KB)

MSFS2024:
VFR Wayne Wonderland (38U) to Hanksville (KHVE).pln (13.1 KB)