American Air Tour

Welcome to our Lewis and Clark Self Flying Guided Air Tour Page. This will be a spectacular adventure from Great Falls, Montana to Astoria, Oregon flown from Sunday 9 September 2018 to Saturday 15 September 2018. We hope you will join us this fall and have your cameras ready for the fall colors and gorgeous mountain beauty. Here is a brief description of the activities and sightseeing we have planned for this tour.

On your way out for the tour, if coming from the east, I have a few ideas for you if you have the time. I wanted to do this tour from St Louis to Astoria but found it would be to long of a tour with too many stops. I do recommend if you have not been to these places to stop in St Louis and visit the Gateway Arch. The museum and films downstairs are always interesting. The other stop I recommend is in Washburn, ND to visit Fort Mandan. Fort Mandan is not in Mandan ND but actually 40 miles north in Washburn, ND. There is a nice airport 4 miles from the fort in Washburn ND, but no courtesy car to get you to the fort, so I recommend landing in Hazen ND. The folks there were great, have a wonderful courtesy van, and let us drive the 35 miles over to visit the fort. This stop is well worth the effort of getting there. You can then follow the Missouri River or keep crossing it headed west over Glendive, MT, and stay north of Lewiston, MT and fly over the Missouri Breaks. This is a beautiful part of the river that is missed by many visitors to the area.

Sunday 9 September
Arrive in Great Falls, MT and park your aircraft at Front Range Aviation FBO on the far west end of the airport by 11:30 AM. We will then meet and greet everyone and start off for our first adventure. It is about an hour drive to Gates of the Mountains Scenic Boat Tour. Then we will travel back to Great Falls for an early welcome dinner followed by part one of our “Mountain Flying Ground School”. The ground school is mandatory for all pilots that have not flown with us before on a mountain tour our flying course and is optional for all non pilots in the group and pilots that have flown with us before.

Monday 10 September
Today we will visit the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center in Great Falls, MT then take a short walk to Giant Springs and the shortest river in the USA (200′ long). After lunch we will visit the Malmstrom AFB Museum. Then it is off to our evening meal to be followed by the second part of our ground school and flight planning of our route for the next day.

Tuesday 11 September
Today we will fly along the Missouri River, over Gates of the Mountains, which we saw from the boat on Sunday, past Townsend MT to the headwaters of the Missouri at Three Forks Montana. We will then continue up the Jefferson River towards Beaverhead River and then over Dillion, MT. We will then work our way towards Salmon, ID,  turn to the north up the bitter root valley to Missoula where we will spend the night. During the afternoon we will go to the Smoke Jumpers Training Center and Museum, the Mountain Flying Pilots Museum, and Travelers Rest.  The Lewis and Clark expedition did not make it to Missoula but did spend days at Travelers Rest 16 miles south of Missoula, MT.

Wednesday 12 September
Our flight today will continue up over Lolo Pass then down the ridge line overlooking Lochsa River on to Lewiston, ID, then to Dalles, OR. In Dalles we will visit The Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center. This museum shows the way of life of the native people during the time that Lewis and Clark traveled through the area, exhibits of Lewis and Clark, and Raptor demonstrations. We will be staying in the downtown area of Dalles so you will have time in the evening to walk around and do a little shopping if needed.

Thursday 13 September
Today we will continue down the Columbia River around Portland, OR and on to Astoria, OR. We will then visit Fort Clatsop where to Corp of Discovery spent their second winter of the Journey. During the late afternoon you will have time to walk along the river trail in downtown Astoria.

Friday 14 September
Today is a planned non flying day – if the weather is great and you would like to fly around the bay, we will have time to do that. We will then cross a five mile bridge over to Ilwaco, WA and Fort Canby State Park on Cape Disappointment. It is in this area that Lewis and Clark spent a few days before going down to Fort Clatsop for the winter. While on this side of the river we will also go to Dismal Bay.  We will end the tour with our farewell dinner on the pier in Astoria, OR.

Saturday 15 September
Our tour is now over and it is time to start back home or on another adventure. Here are four choices if you need some ideas. One, travel down the Pacific coast and work your way back along I- 40. If doing this route stop in Merced, CA and visit the Castle AFB Air Museum. Two, fly down the Pacific coast to I- 80 and fly along I- 80 over Reno, Salt Lake City, and Cheyenne. If you fly this route stop in Placerville, CA for a quaint town visit and Wendover, UT to visit the training site of Enola Gay. Third, fly back along the route we flew out on visiting some more sites where did not stop. Fourth, fly northeast to Cavanaugh Bay on Priest Lake to a very nice grass strip to camp with your aircraft for a night. We will then fly on to Polson MT to visit the Mission Valley. We would be happy to show you around the sites in the Polson area that include Glacier National Park, the National Bison Range, Flathead Lake, and Wild Horse Island to name a few. Remember to always take care and fly safe.

Reservations
To sign up for this tour please send an email to flybga@msn.com or call us at 719 393 5550

Payment Information

Cost of the tour is $3230.00 USD for up to two people per plane
To make your reservation please call us at 719 393 5550 or email us at flybga@msn.com
We look forward to meeting you and having you join us on a trip of a lifetime

Payment Schedule
All funds paid in US Currency via check.
A $1000.00 deposit is required to hold your reservation.
Another $1,000.00 or the balance payment is required three (3) months prior to your trip.
The final payment is due one (1) month prior to your trip.

Payment Method
Check Enclosed (US Checks and Currency Only) Cashier Check Enclosed (US Currency Only) Money Order Enclosed (US Currency Only)

Cancellations
If you cancel before ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of the tour, a full refund (minus a $300.00 reservation fee) will be made. If you cancel within the last ninety (90) days before the tour, we, Blue Goose Aviation, Inc., can only provide a refund if we are able to rebook your reservation.

Inclusive Items
All Airport Data and Necessary Charts Flight planning materials Gratuities Two Dinners (Welcome and Farewell) Hotel Accommodations Transportation to Accommodations Scheduled Activities Weather Data Services

Non-Inclusive Items
Alcoholic Beverages All Personal Costs such as souvenirs, telephone calls, travel insurance, etc. Meals Transportation to or from tour starting point Tie Down Fees