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Auction Donations

The silent and oral auctions held during the convention banquet are the Club's largest annual fundraisers. Auction income helps fund the Club's youth flight training scholarships and special projects, and offsets convention costs. We appreciate these generous donations from aviation businesses and invite Club members to also donate at least one item to the silent or oral auction. We request that Club members contact convention organizers by June 30th with the name and value of the donated item(s). 

AeroLEDS                              Gift certificate for Pulsar Series Nav/Pos Wingtip Lights. $1350-$1530 value.

Aircraft Spruce                       5 - $100 gift certificates

Coleman Aeronautics            Seat adjustment tools. $500 value.

Concorde Battery Corp.        Gift certificate for a Skywagon battery

Dunlap Beach Retreat          4-days/3-nights stay in a 3 bedroom beach house along Pacific City Airport on the Oregon coast. 1-day crab fishing excursion on the Nestucca River. Courtesy SUV provided. $1500+ value.

Garmin                                  D2 Air X15 aviator watch. $649.99 value. inReach mini 3 Plus. $499.99 value.

Lightspeed Aviation              Zulu 4 headset. $1,099.00 value. 

McFarlane Aviation               2 - $250 gift certificates

Oregon Aero                         2 - gift certificates for headset upgrades. $133 each. 2 - gift certificates for soft seat cushions. $245 each.

Selkirk Aviation                     TBD

The RAF                               The $270 donation includes: Wheel chocks ($60), airplane tie down ($95), cap ($36), insulated mug ($34), leather pilot journal ($45). 

International 180/185 Club Convention
August 3-7, 2026
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Lodging during the August 3-7 convention

The Club convention will be held at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.  The Resort is a four-star hotel and spa located on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene. The facility address is 115 South 2nd Street, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

The Resort has designated a discounted block of guestrooms for the Club convention for 4 nights, August 3 - 6, with August 7 departure. Three room types are offered:

North Wing - $289/night + tax
Park Tower - $339/night + tax
Lake Tower - $439/night + tax

Club members and their guests are eligible to receive the discounted lodging rate.

Lodging reservations should be made by May 2, 2026 to secure the discounted rate.

Here's the link to make your own online lodging reservations for the 4 nights of August 3-6 with August 7 departure. The discounted room block is under the name: 180 185 Club.

180 185 Club Reservations

Pre and Post  Convention Lodging
If convention attendees want to reserve a guestroom pre or post convention, they will need to call the Resort reservation department for assistance. All pre and post lodging dates are subject to availability in order to receive the discounted rate. Call 1-855-752-7351. 

Why would people arrive early?
* Participate in the July 31 - August 2 fly-in at Johnson Creek, ID.  Fly directly from Johnson Creek to Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, August 2nd to relax and prepare for the convention activities that officially begin on Monday.
* Participate in the Sunday afternoon, August 2nd, Backcountry First-aid Course at CdA airport. 
* Hire a backcountry flying instructor and explore some of the Idaho airstrips. You can also choose to schedule flight instruction for the weekend after the convention. 
* Enjoy the art, music and food festivals in Coeur d'Alene the weekend prior to the convention.  

Resort Parking
There's a parking structure at the Resort. They charge $26/night if you park your own car, or $26/night for valet parking.  Street parking is another option. 

International 180/185 Club Convention
August 3-7, 2026
Coeur d'Alene, ID

The theme for the 2026 Convention is "Backcountry."  Each activity and event before and during the convention is tailored to increase Club members' knowledge, skills, and appreciation for a safe and enjoyable backcountry flying experience. 

Schedule of Events

Club members must be registered for the convention to participate in the Zoom learning sessions held in May, June, and July. These are Pre-convention events:

Pre-convention

Zoom Leaning Sessions

You Tube videos can be informative, but there's no comparison to learning through interaction with individuals who are knowledgeable in an area of backcountry flying. During the pre-convention Zoom sessions you can ask questions and walk away with handouts that will aid in improving backcountry flying knowledge. The cost for the 3 Zoom sessions is included in the convention registration fee.

May 17, Sunday. 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT.     Preparing for the backcountry. Speakers - Mike Kincaid & Dr. Rachael Ferraro.

June, Date & time TBD.     Weather or not should I go? Speaker - Dr. Amy Hoover, nationally recognized flight instructor and backcountry author.

Dr. Amy Hoover is the 2022 National Flight Instructor of the year. She has been flying commercially and teaching backcountry flying for 35 years. Hoover holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a Professor of Aviation at Central Washington University. She has over 7,500 hours of flight time, approximately 2/3 of it as a charter pilot and backcountry instructor in central Idaho, and is the primary author of the ASA book Mountain,Canyon, and Backcountry Flying which has sold over 11,000 copies since publication in 2019. Hoover has given more than 200 presentations on a variety of topics throughout the U.S. and has authored more than 30 professional articles and manuals on aviation human factors, single pilot resource management, instructional methodologies, canyon weather, and mountain/backcountry flying tips

July 13, Monday. 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT.     How to survive a backcountry accident. Speaker - Mike Kincaid.

Fly-in at Johnson Creek

July 31, Friday - August 2, Sunday. 3U2.      Annual Club fly-in over the weekend prior to the 2026 convention in Coeur d'Alene. Saturday dinner with Skywagon owner, retired commercial pilot, and world traveler Lee Hannibal as speaker. Coincides with Yellow Pine Music Festival. Pre-convention event with separate registration on Club website.

Skill Development

August 2, Sunday. Afternoon.     Backcountry First-aid Course.  Led by Dr. Chet Stringham, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, CDA. Sponsored by AeroLEDS. (Optional activity with fee charged)

Convention Schedule: August 3-7, 2026

August 3. Monday.          Convention registration. Bird Museum, Coeur d'Alene Airport (COE). Sponsored by BWI.

                                          Welcome Brunch. Bird Museum, COE. Hosted by Coeur d'Alene Airport Association. Sponsored by BWI.

                                          Welcome Reception. Coeur d'Alene Resort. Sponsored by Lightspeed Aviation. 

                                          Hospitality - Sponsored by Beegles Aviation.

August 4. Tuesday.          Group Bus Tour. Sandpoint, ID. Guided tour of historical areas from CdA to Sandpoint, Daher Kodiak production facility tour, exploring Sandpoint, dinner at Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. Lunch and dinner are provided during the day-long tour.

August 5. Wednesday.    Fly-out briefing. Bird Museum, KCOE. Coeur d'Alene Airport Association will lead briefing.

                                          Fly-out. Cavanaugh Bay airstrip. Breakfast at Cavanaugh Bay Lodge at Priest Lake. Speaker: Tom Hamilton, Aerocet. Floatplane parking at Tanglefoot Seaplane Port.

                                         Tech Night. Coeur d'Alene Resort. What makes a Skywagon a reliable backcountry airplane? What mods can be added to improve safety and performance?

                                         Navigator Night Out. Lake Coeur d'Alene. Evening cruise on the Lake for navigators, co-pilots, spouses and partners. Appetizers provided. Sponsored by NorthPoint.

8/6. Thursday.                 Board Breakfast & Meeting. Coeur d'Alene Resort.

                                         Backcountry Basics. Coeur d'Alene Resort. The RAF and IAA will lead a morning session on backcountry technique, safety and etiquette. Sponsored by Garmin.

                                         Banquet & Auction. Coeur d'Alene Resort. Speaker: Aerospace legend, Burt Rutan. The silent & oral auction are the Club's annual fundraiser for youth scholarships and special projects. Sponsored by Flight Lines Design.

                                         Hospitality - Sponsored by Beegles Aviation.

8/7. Friday.                      Pilots/Navigators Depart. COE. Some Club members may choose to extend their stay to hire a CFI and explore backcountry airstrips in ID and MT.

ARRIVE EARLY. STAY LATE. LOGISTICS.

The Club's annual Johnson Creek Fly-in near Yellow Pine, Idaho will be held July 31 - August 2 morning, the weekend prior to the convention. Head to Coeur d'Alene first to drop your suitcase and convention attire at the Club's storage space at Pappy Boyington Field (KCOE). Then head to Johnson Creek campground (3U2) to enjoy the Fly-in and fun and funky Yellow Pine Music Festival. For co-pilots/navigators who prefer a weekend of culture, check-in early at Coeur d'Alene Resort for the trifecta of fun: Art on the Green, Downtown Street Fair, and Taste of Coeur d'Alene held the last weekend of July.

On Sunday, August 2nd, arrive in Coeur d'Alene to participate in the afternoon Backcountry First-aid course at (KCOE). You can leave your camping gear at the Club's airport storage space and then catch a shuttle to the Resort.

Book a backcountry flying lesson and spend the weekend following the convention exploring the mountain airstrips of Idaho and Montana.  Store your camping gear at COE while you work with a local instructor to enhance flying skills. 

International 180/185 Club Convention
August 3-7, 2026
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Club Directors, members and volunteers plan and staff the convention, donating a lot of time and resources along the way.  Club members pay a registration fee to cover some of the shared convention costs, and then sign up for other activities where there is a charge per event. It is with the financial assistance of the Club's Partners, Sponsors and Donors that the convention can be held in unique and varied locations, that a variety of activities can be offered, and that Club projects and flight training scholarships can be funded.


Who is helping to make the 2026 convention possible?

Partners - $2500+ donation

A Partner's relationship with the 180/185 Club extends during and beyond the annual convention for a year. The goal is to establish long-term partnerships that achieve both organizations' goals. There is a commitment of cash/and or inkind services. Please thank these Partners by doing business with them, calling them, or sending them a note.

Beegles Aircraft Service based in Greely, Colorado, is an FAA-certified repair station specialized in major airframe structural repairs, rebuilding, alterations and modifications for Cessna, Beech, Piper and Mooney aircraft. They provide comprehensive, expert maintenance including control surface, wing, and landing gear repairs.

Bill White Insurance (BWI) Since 1977, BWI has been at the forefront of the aviation insurance industry. They strive to provide their customers with the most competitive rates and top-notch service from coast to coast. From gliders to warbirders, ag operators to Skywagons and twin-engine Cessna's, Pipers, Mooneys and most FAA standard and experimental aircraft, they specialize in finding the best insurance for the 180/185 you love to fly!

Flight Lines Design specializes in premium aircraft interior and exterior design, offering customized solutions for private jets, double and single prop airplanes, including cabin layout modifications, custom exterior paint schemes, and regulatory compliance assistance. They blend luxury aesthetics with engineering, focusing on tailored designs for owners and operators. 

Nonprofit Partners

• Bird Aviation & Invention Museum
• Coeur d'Alene Airport 
• Coeur d'Alene Airport Association
• Coeur d'Alene Flyers
• Idaho Aviation Association (IAA) 
• The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) 

Convention Sponsors - $1000+ donation

Sponsors show their support for the 180/185 Club by helping to offset convention facility, activity, event, and service costs. We greatly value the businesses that help to make the 2026 convention possible! Please thank them whenever possible.

Sponsor                                Activity/Event Sponsored

AeroLEDS                              Backcountry First-aid Course

Beegles Aircraft Services      Hospitality

Bill White (BWI) Insurance    Welcome brunch and convention registration

Flight Lines Design                Banquet & Auction

Garmin                                   Back Country Basics session

Lightspeed Aviation               Welcome evening reception

NorthPoint Aviation                Navigator Night Out

Auction Donors

The silent and oral auctions held during the convention banquet are the Club's largest annual fundraisers. Auction income helps fund the Club's youth flight training scholarships and special projects, and offsets convention costs. We appreciate these generous donations from aviation businesses and invite Club members to also donate at least one item to the silent or oral auction. We request that Club members contact convention organizers by June 30th with the name and value of the donated item(s). 

AeroLEDS

Aircraft Spruce

Coleman Aeronautics

Concorde Battery Corporation

Garmin

Lightspeed Aviation

McFarlane Aviation

Oregon Aero

Selkirk Aviation

The RAF

International 180/185 Club Convention
August 3-7, 2026
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Transportation

Arriving in Coeur d'Alene via commercial airline
Commercial airlines fly regularly into nearby Spokane International Airport (GEG). It is a 45 minute drive from GEG to Coeur d'Alene Resort via rental car or Uber. Once Club members arrive in Spokane, Washington they have the following transportation options:

Rental cars - Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.

Resort shuttle van - call 855-379-7988. $45/guest with advance booking.

Arriving in Coeur d' Alene via Skywagon

Pappy Boyington Field (COE) in Coeur d'Alene will serve as the host airport for the convention. It is a 20 minute drive from Pappy Boyington Field to Coeur d'Alene Resort.

COE will soon be upgraded to a Class D airport. There will be a temporary, manned tower at KCOE during the summer months, to include the dates of the convention. A new grass airstrip will be planted this Spring with the hope to have it available for our use during our August event. The CTAF for Coeur d'Alene is 122.8. 

Local aviation leaders will provide advance guidance for how to enter the Coeur d'Alene airspace.  Idaho skies are busy with GA travelers exploring Idaho and nearby Washington.  Lake Coeur d'Alene is a popular recreational spot with active seaplane use.  There's the potential that COE may be set up as a local base for wilderness fire fighting efforts. We want Club members' arrival in this gorgeous area to be safe and memorable. 

Skywagons flying into COE for the convention will park on a grassy section of the airport near the Bird Aviation Museum. On Monday morning, August 3rd, airport volunteers will assist in directing pilots to the designated parking area.

Please be sure to let the convention planners know in advance if you'll fly into COE prior to Monday morning. We'll help to coordinate parking and transportation to the Resort. Email us at: pnwskywagon@gmail.com.

On Monday morning the 3rd, the airport manager will provide a van to transport pilots, navigators, guests and gear from parked Skywagons to the Bird Aviation Museum. The convention registration and welcome breakfast will be held at the Bird Aviation Museum, which is a short walk from the grassy area where the Skywagons will park.  

Two 15-passenger vans will transport pilots and passengers from the Bird Aviation Museum to Coeur d'Alene Resort on Monday.  It is a 20 minute drive from Pappy Boyington Field to Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Club members who fly into Pappy Boyington Field can also choose to rent a vehicle through Go Rentals, which is located at the airport FBO, Stancraft. Contact Garrison Walls at 208-315-8020 to make a reservation. Another option is Enterprise, which is located off-site and closer to the Resort. 208-765-1070.  You must get a ride to the Enterprise office, 10 minutes away, to pick up your rental vehicle. 

The Resort shuttle van will pick you up with an advance booking. $50/guest. Call 855-379-7988. 

Shuttle Vans
The Club has rented 2, 15-passenger vans for the period of Sunday morning, August 2nd through Friday noon, August 7th. The vans will be available to transport pilots and passengers from Couer d'Alene Airport to the Resort for the following activities:

Sunday, August 2 - early arrival of pilots and passengers destined for the Resort.

Sunday late afternoon, August 2 - transport to Resort following the Backcountry First-aid Course held at COE Administrative office.

Monday, August 3 - morning to early afternoon transport of pilots and passengers to Resort following convention registration and Welcome Breakfast at Bird Aviation Museum.

Wednesday, August 5 - transport pilots to COE for breakfast fly-out to Cavanaugh Bay at Priest Lake. Return to Resort following Priest Lake event.  Vans will be driven to Cavanaugh Bay on Wednesday morning if weather or forest fire smoke prohibits a flight to 66S. 

Friday - Convention ends. Transport pilots and passengers to their Skywagons at COE. 

Special Requests - Special group excursions using the vans may be planned for Wednesday and Thursday. Events TBD.

A van will depart every 30 minutes from COE and the Resort during the busy shuttling days of Monday and Friday. Schedule TBD.

Your convention registration fee helps to cover the cost for 2, 15-passenger vans for 6 days of use.