"Backcountry" is the theme for the August 3-7, 2026, 180/185 Club convention held at Coeur d'Alene Resort in Idaho. Hosting airport is Pappy Boyington Field (COE), 9 miles northwest of Coeur d'Alene. There are lots of outdoor activities available in this famous Pacific Northwest resort community - golfing, boating, hiking, fishing, shopping and of course there are lots of backcountry airstrips to explore.

The annual Club gathering includes pre-convention activities, also.  Club members must register for the convention to participate in the pre-convention Zoom learning sessions. 

Preconvention Activities

Zoom learning sessions:
May 17 - Preparing for the backcountry. Speakers: Mike Kincaid and Dr. Rachael Ferraro

June TBD - Weather or not should I go? Speaker: Dr. Amy Hoover, nationally awarded flight instructor and backcountry author

July 13 - How to survive a backcountry accident. Speaker: Mike Kincaid & Dr. Rachael Ferraro

Fly-ins:
July 31-August 2. Johnson Creek fly-in. 3U2. Event coincides with the Yellow Pine Music Festival.  There is a separate Event registration for this annual, airplane camping event in Central Idaho.

Skill Development:
August 2 - Backcountry First-aid course. COE. Led by Dr. Chet Stringham, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, CDA.  Arrive in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday morning, a day before the convention begins. The first-aid course will be held in the airport manager's conference room Sunday afternoon. Expect to spend 3-4 hours learning how to respond to a medical emergency in the backcountry. There will be a separate event registration for the Backcountry First-aid Course. Stay tuned! Sponsored by AeroLEDS.

Arriving early or staying late to work with a backcountry CFI? Email pnwskywagon@gmail.com to view a list of CFIs provided by the local aviation community.

Convention Activities 

Monday, August 3 
     Welcome Brunch - hosted by the Coeur d'Alene Airport Association, COE. Sponsored by Bill White Insurance (BWI). 
     Convention Registration - Bird Aviation Museum, COE. Sponsored by BWI.
     Tour of Bird Aviation Museum - self guided tour
     Welcome Reception, Coeur d' Alene Resort. Sponsored by Lightspeed Aviation.
     Shuttle vans are available to transport convention attendees to Coeur d'Alene Resort. Sponsored by McFarlane Aviation

Tuesday, August 4
     Group bus tour from 9am - 9pm. Guided tour to learn of the history of the area. Destination is Sandpoint to tour Daher Kodiak facility and to enjoy the colorful downtown. Dinner at Schweitzer Mountain.  Lunch and dinner meals are provided with this bus tour package. 

Wednesday, August 5
     Fly-out to Cavanaugh Bay airstrip on Priest Lake. 66S. Skywagons on floats can park at Tanglefoot seaplane dock. Breakfast at Cavanaugh's at Priest Lake. Speaker: Tom Hamilton of Aerocet. Vans will transport 30 people from Coeur d'Alene Resort to Priest Lake Lodge if weather or forest fire smoke prevents flying. Shuttle vans sponsored by McFarlane Aviation.

     Tech Night at Coeur d'Alene Resort. Speakers will highlight why the Skywagon design and build makes it a premier backcountry airplane. Learn about mods that increase safety and performance.  

     Navigator Night Out on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Navigators, passengers, spouses and guests will enjoy an evening of appetizers, dessert, and entertainment on a Lake Coeur d'Alene cruise boat. Sponsored by NorthPoint Aviation.

Thursday, August 6
     Board of Director breakfast and meeting at the Resort.

     Backcountry Basics morning session at the Resort, led by our nonprofit partners the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), Idaho Aviation Association (IAA) and Coeur d'Alene Airport Association (CdAAA). Discussion about backcountry safety, etiquette and technique. Sponsored by Garmin.

     Banquet and auction at Coeur d'Alene Resort. Speaker: Aerospace legend Burt Rutan. Sponsored by Flight Lines Design.

Friday, August 7
     Club members and guests depart. Shuttle vans are available to transport convention attendees to Coeur d'Alene Airport. Sponsored by McFarlane Aviation.

** Please use a computer or Ipad to register for the convention as information isn't fully displayed when using a mobile phone **