CHALLENGER ULTRALIGHT-IN DEPTH WALK AROUND FOR BUILDERS

[@joeparker4543]

I have just read that Tom has passed away nearly 2 years ago - he seems to have been a meticulous and safety conscious builder and pilot, with an eye for great purposeful aesthetics - rest in peace Tom, we have been blessed to watch you show us what is a wonderful amphibious plane.

[@mikekiedro4552]

This is the finest example of a Challenger I have ever seen. Nice work!

[@brianballard1729]

A lovely aircraft, by the looks, made with MUCH LOVE, care and pride... Congratulations & Thanks for sharing... I am 75 and tempted to have one professionally built... I live in Far North Queensland, Australia...

[@thomassouth9642]

Mr. Tom, this is absolutely the most beautiful quad city challenger I have ever seen. Excellent job sir, And thank you for the very thorough explanation on all of your modifications and customizations. It’s giving me a lot of ideas for my GT 400. Cheers

[@randycalkins6361]

This is by far the Nicest Challenger I've seen to date. The amount of extra time, detail and thought that you put into this is incredible. If I ever get to own a Challenger I'd like it to be all done just like yours for the safety and User Friendlyness aspects. Thank You for sharing this information with us. It would be cool to see your Challenger at EAA 2024.

[@kevincrowe1483]

The plain looks fantastic. Seeing your plane is exhilarating. The attention to detail on the exterior is terrific, and the attention to detail on the interior is equally as wonderful.

[@TrustJesus100]

Looks absolutely awesome, stream lining the windshield like that is perfect, I'd do that too. 👍

[@skydiver6711]

I love the way this plane looks. I took lessons in a Challenger back in the 90's and when I saw this one I thought that maybe they had redesigned the airplane. But I see now that it is the way you did the windshield. I absolutely love it.

[@joelkoonce8559]

Thank you very much, I was so impressed with Tom's calm and pleasant demeanor, He obviously was a great Man.

[@whileistillcan9338]

I think that is the best built, prettiest Challenger I've ever seen. Well done!

[@mikecygk]

Beautifully done. I built and flew a Challenger for 10 years, and it remains the best experience flying small aircraft that I've had. Great group of owners, too.

[@RaivoltG]

Awesome looking plane! One of the nicest I've ever seen! I love your "Plan B!" I might steal your idea! Great video, looking forward to seeing your other videos!

[@rolandos64]

It’s beautiful. Love the color scheme and the tint. Looks gorgeous

[@dinos8557]

Fantastic example of a Challenger, very well done. Need to see more flight videos, can't wait till the spring to see some float flying.

[@SkunksWorks]

Tom, that looks fantastic! Love the colors and design. Congratulations on a job Very Well Done! Cheers!

[@medicaremastersofconnecticut]

You’ve done a beautiful job on this airplane.

[@AndyTulenko]

I like the Excalibur but I must say, this is the best looking challenger I've ever seen. I love the nose cone lowering. Beautiful work.

[@kevinhughes6519]

that is one of the most Informative videos of a completed challenger build I’ve seen ! I recently purchased a Used early challenger and after I finished researching as much as possible i’ll continue with the upgrades!! your video just helped me so much! Thank you!!

[@johnbray4566]

Tom; fantastic video and commentary during the walk-around. I especially appreciate the suggestion as given about the edge tape over the tubes [@ 12:54], brilliant! Thank you for sharing your building experience. BTW, what a beautiful machine you've got there. Well done, Sir.

[@jsarkozy]

you have one of the most beautiful Challengers I have seen. Thank you for sharing your build experience, tips and tricks, I found them very helpful. I still have yet to see one in person, out here in BC there are not many around. I have wanted one of these for many many years...hopefully one day!

[@gfbprojects1071]

Beautiful aircraft. A lot of thought, patience, and skill has gone into this bird. Well done.

[@joeparker4543]

Tom, A really beautiful and careful planned and built floatplane …. It is superb

[@alanc6781]

Very well presented, Tom. Thank you. You have done a good job with both the aeroplane and the presentation.

[@selfmademadness]

Such a beauty!!! Rest in peace Tom!

[@humnpwr]

Excellent, most beautiful Challenger I have seen yet!!!

[@bryanbaxter6970]

Nice job.The best Challenger I've seen.I like your detail.Well done.

[@danielneuenschwander7381]

A very nice job building this aircraft, and the wrap color scheme suits it to a 'T'!

[@JimBridgmon]

That looks very nice, I love the choice of colors. Great Job!

[@Gristle111]

Beautiful. I miss flying.. This would be perfect for my cottage. Def going to look into this aircraft.

[@leerouse2001]

Happened to come across this on KZbin that is one beautiful plane love the paint job and design absolutely gorgeous with the tinted windows wow 😳

[@Steve-dr7rr]

That is a very good looking aircraft sir and you have done a fantastic job of building her. I don’t fly at all or have a license but know a good looking one when I see it. I hope you and good lady have lots of fun and enjoyable trips in her and a great video. Steve 👨🏼‍🦽🇬🇧👍🏻👍🏻

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

Awesome Livery Tom I think it was worth the weight enjoy. Play safe from Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada.

[@kennethperian4370]

Good job showing telling, plane looks great good job. Be watching you on the next one have a great day.

[@hunt4fish]

Cool, I like what you did with your plane; some really neat ideas there! Fly safe!

[@stevenharrison4926]

What a beautiful aircraft - and a great presentation on your walk around.

[@joncoughlin_dev]

I would love to see more videos of your Challenger in action, Tom. This is an incredible walkaround.

[@randycalkins6361]

In my opinion, the Challenger is the Greatest airplane ever built. I just Love the Challenger ll.

[@dirtdobber2715]

Fantastic video, love these upgraded ideas!👍👍

[@brianballard1729]

Peace Love and Light - Maybe a meet-up in the afterlife when GAIA shifts to the "5th dimension" Blessings to you and your family

[@HEMIdouglas]

Thank you very much for a tour of your aircraft. I have been a wannabee pilot many years, and succeeded getting hang gliding training. I am a fan of the Challenger, being a proud Canadian. Just a lack of income to support the hobby. I COULD probably go up for a fan flight . Good on a simulator, with real world practice, I have coordination to be a good pilot.I might contact a local Winnipeg club for a ride.

[@JungleJargon]

It's a beautiful AC. A lot of attention to detail! I want to get a float plane too. I'm weighing all of the options.

[@wilsonrawlin8547]

Excellent upgrades! Beautiful plane. Love the enclosed canopy as well. I'm just into the video and had to comment. Genius idea on the ground plane for the antenna. I'm an Eng III tech and communication systems is in my wheelhouse. Brilliant thinking and great weight reduction from conventional ground planes. As long as you can tune and get the range you need, that's perfect. I'm actually going to consider using this lightweight concept on the ground planes I design in the future.

[@davidbarr2155]

Great job little details explained

[@c4psswe950]

Wow, truly a gorgeus aircraft, browsed around looking for an aircraft kit suitable for my needs and stumbled up on your channel

[@kennethdoucette4954]

Love Yours A Lot !!! If I Ever Can Swing It In My Life Sometime !!! I Want One Styled Mostly Like Yours !!! Great Video !!! Happy&Safe Flying Always !!!

[@The_Frozen_Canadian.est.1793]

GOALS, very informative and helpful video. Thanks for posting!

[@gunner49er]

Windscreen looks great

[@whisperingeagle]

And i thought i did a great job on my challenger till i saw your video. Thanks alot dam.

[@bradleymcclintock7771]

Beautiful thanks for the walk around i love it.❤😊

[@robertholmes1366]

I like the look of that one Very nice work !

[@walthampton6700]

awesome! thanks so much for taking the time to create this video

[@FixLife119]

That is the best looking Challenger I've ever seen, by far! The tinted enclosure looks so good. Great work Tom! What was your final weight?

[@franklynch9054]

Great job ! Great ideas ! Inspiring !Chuckled at plan B !

[@wavewaker2]

Beautiful plane Tom, I hope stock plane comes like this.

[@BryanNichols]

This looks great! Nice work

[@michealwolff3563]

The Best, it doesn't get better than that

[@blyz_69]

Absolutely gorgeous! I own a CHII as well. I'd assume this is the XL-65? Wow, I just love the upgrades. I need the LSS new tail and wings for mine. Outstanding color and vinyl choice!

[@stevepumfrey8060]

Amazing job.

[@jag1963]

That is a particularly beautiful aircraft.

[@wab1954]

You did a beautiful job!

[@Marc1973Dez]

it is gorgeous .... wow

[@Project2Aero]

Paint scheme is awesome!

[@frankcloskey7789]

Excellent built Ultralight well done . 5/16/ 2021

[@NateSail82]

Gorgeous airplane, I hope to get one of these in the near future.

[@matthewlawrence1125]

What a beautiful aircraft!!

[@FIKOE]

PLAN B is amazing!

[@pilotcass5977]

Awesome video Tom, and amazing job on the airplane! Any ballpark estimates on how much it costed to build this aircraft (including add-ons) from scratch? Cheers!

[@AClark-gs5gl]

I would love to create an electric powered version. Love this design!

[@Mike-01234]

That is the cleanest Challenger ever seen been looking to buy one most are all dirty inside people don't take care of them at least the ones on Barnstormer. If they can't even keep the dirt out of the cabin area how can I trust their maintenance.

[@larryrobertson3310]

damn fine job sir !!

[@bigjim1327]

Excellent job sir!

[@irfanhusein1445]

Looks great.

[@ranjanbonin7558]

Excellent video! 👍🏻

[@timothystone4998]

Beautiful

[@Mike-ff7ib]

beautiful plane. That wind really made it hard to hear you. I completely missed where you got the rubber trim for the windshield.

[@tommcclatchie1258]

Aircraft Spruce

[@hankhopkins3587]

Wish I'd watch this before my ch2 build..

[@VikingVanMan]

What a beautiful Challenger !!! Skål 🍺 🍺 🍺

[@thecottonpatch80]

Beautiful build. What’s the part number for the rubber seal you got from Aircraft spruce?

[@garymathes2888]

Beautiful plane

[@michaelhyland7035]

It would have been a pleasure to have met Tom. However Tom REST IN PEACE. I SO ENJOYED THE VIDEO. I AM A 77 YEAR OLD YOUNGSTER AVIATION ENTHUSIAST. NOT LIKELY TO HAVE ONE OF THESE. I ENJOYED IT WAS AMAZING .😊 28:33 m

[@kentwilkens3435]

Looks amazing! Great build. Have you built before? How long did it take, hours, and start to finished?

[@donbiscoe9359]

Very nice work! What is her range?

[@seansysig]

Beautiful design and the wrap is spectacular. Your attention to detail and fabrication mods are ingenious. What is the average range of your XL65 ?

[@scottprewett6860]

Very Nice job

[@FernandoPerez-en8sc]

Beautiful machine. Do I need license pilot to fly one of these? What is the range price for a brand new one?

[@n153bp]

Tom, who make the floats? Very nice build!

[@jeffreyduke3178]

Hey Tom ,love your aircraft,am wondering how your radiator flaps work directing air onto the radiator. I see you have a BRS installed. Love the plan B sticker.

[@billh4849]

Very cool... If you see another Challenger flying around Ontario with an elongated windshield ...its me, Really like the look! Would you happen to have the contact information of the artist who came up with that design?

[@tommcclatchie1258]

Bill, where are you located? The artists name is Richee Ree and he’s in India. He won’t negotiate privately as it would get him kicked out of the web site and that site has been very good to him. (I tried)

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

Beautiful job! I purchased a Challenger 2 this summer and will be spending this winter making a few modifications like the third door to make entry and exit easier. Mine is also on floats, and I have been struggling on how to re-route the cables as I see the current routing as a serious trip and snag hazard. Looks like you solved my dilemma for that. Thanks. You gave me some great ideas for additional mods. BTW, is yours registered Basic or Advanced? Mine has the single tank in the back, and I would love to have wing tanks for the added capacity. How many litres do the tanks carry? Cheers from Winnipeg.

[@UAP_of_Phx]

That’s a beautiful plane. Where is the plane at now?

[@TheBryanmcclatchie]

After Tom passed we sold it to a gentleman in Newfoundland. It's flying the skies on the east coast now!

[@robertguild4032]

Hi Tom Looks awesome !!!! Just wondering if the lexan you used for the front windscreen is shaped in any way ? i.e can I just get a piece the right size and bend it and achieve the same shape ?

[@xtaxpayer1]

gorgeous

[@jwald6795]

That's a very nice airplane.

[@prasetyo-edi]

Excellent

[@orvjudd1383]

Very beautiful accent graphics.

[@icitrom]

Beautiful!

[@doncraft9100]

thankyou for this video, love it

[@RickM1953]

Tom, I’d sure like to learn more about your cabin heater system. Is your engine a 582 Rotax?

[@andrewforber3826]

It's the standard heater that comes with the 582 kit from Sheer Technologies. The Quad City factory can put you in touch.

[@metalzhenry]

Nice looking challenger! What does it weight with the floats?

[@vip-ti6es]

You are an artist .. Tell us if you want to sell it one day

[@andrewforber3826]

It is for sale now. Unfortunately Tom passed away from cancer in May.

[@tomstulc9143]

I'd be afraid to fly it mine least you smudge on it. Not generally into shiny but that thing is impressive.