Balsa Beavers Models Flying Club - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hello Everybody,
I have been elected the President of the Balsa Beavers Models Flying Club.

There are many important issues I will be dealing with in the nearest future and one of them is judging in stunt.
With passing of Mr. Brownhill, we have lost one of our stunt judges and I am looking for the solution.

Specifically, we need to train at least two people in stunt judging.

Is there any computer simulation program available that can be treated as the starting point in this process?
I know that, from time to time, the judging clinics were organized in the US...

Any suggestions?

Best Regards, Stay Safe,
Matt Piatkowski

[Dwayne Donnelly]

Thanks again for stepping up Matt, living in Kingston it would be difficult to come to Toronto for training but not out of the question, if there is some sort of online tutorial I'd be more than happy to give judging a try.

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hi Dwayne,
Can we meet?
Do you fly stunt in Kingston?
If yes, where? Some baseball field? Parking area?

The weather will be (I hope..), from time to time, conducive to flying until December.

I can come to Kingston to fly with you and then we will talk...Just let me know where and when.

I know nothing about tutorial/computer simulation for potential stunt judges now.

Perhaps somebody will help...If not, we have to come up with some plan how to do it.
Stay Safe and Fly Safely,
Matt

 

[Dwayne Donnelly]

PM sent

[ericrule]

Very sad to hear about Chris Brownhill's passing. He was a real asset to the Balsa Beavers for more years than was reasonable.

In point of fact Chris is the fellow who taught me how to fly C/L and helped me learn how to build models (thank God for Flying Model and Model Airplane News) during the many cold "snow" months in Canada. Every spring and throughout the summer and fall I would see Chris at Centennial Park and try to learn better maneuvers. He was always willing to help out! A real gentleman.

Matt, you could drop a note to Keith Trostle or Larry Renger about how to set up and run a judging clinic. Both of them have presented top notch clinics here in sunny California that helped us train numerous stunt judges. I am sure they would both be more than willing to send you their notes and teaching aids.

Regards
Eric Rule

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hi Eric,
I will talk to Keith Trostle or Larry Renger about judging clinic.
We all have right now huge problem with this nasty virus and everything can be delayed and affected.

Despite of this, I was flying today testing my latest creation called eParrot XL (attached).

This what I saw and felt reinforces my faith in the counter-rotating propellers systems for stunt - the plane flies much better than I can fly it!

In the meantime, the number of the contra equipped F2B planes in Poland is growing and the top Polish F2B pilots fly something I called a monotype - the same plane, the same powerplant, the same electronics..Way cool.
Stay Safe, Regards,
M

[Steve Helmick]

Matt, your maple leaf sticker looks to be loosely attached. If it comes off in flight, you would be charged with an attempt or possibly even DQ for wreckless (sic) endangerment, eh? 

Seriously, I don't know whether you fly & judge by AMA rules or FAI rules (they use AMA rules in BC and AB), but having volunteers read up on the rules before a Judging Clinic is always a good thing. Coercing your most experienced judges to teach a clinic will not be terribly difficult, I'd think. The club will have to arrange a flying site and provide some clip boards and score sheets. Coaching sheets might be even better. I don't think it's a good idea to tabulate scores...just compare the scores given for each maneuver, and ask why. Of course, we had to cover Appearance Judging, which is always exciting.

I went to a Judging Clinic that the Late Don McClave ran at Delta Park, Portland, OR. That was 161 miles and 3 hours drive one-way (according to Google Maps). We hosted a Judging Clinic a few years ago at Dick Scobee Field, in Auburn, WA, and we had some folks come from the Portland area, about the same distance or more. Like flying, practice helps, but so does being young, fit and motivated. 

The Stunt Hangar Stunt Clinic Forum is a decent source of information, OBTW. One of the more difficult things is when the rules are changed...it's hard (for me, anyway) to forget the old rule, even if I remember the new rule.    Steve

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hi Steve,
It is not a sticker.
It is a genuine maple leaf that fell on the wing from the neighbor's maple tree.
Way cool!!
Cheers,
M

[john e. holliday]

Need to get clear cote on it.

Unusual color scheme.

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Matt, So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend and mentor. You've got several fine gentlemen in your membership including Keith "Goozog" Morgan, and Len Bourill, Both of whom are accomplished Stunt Judges. I am sure they will both be assets to you in helping you to train additional Judges. Its the kind of skill which comes from many hours of OJT with some gentle input for others who have done it before! The most helpful way is to pair up apprentice judges with accomplished judges and let them score, compare efforts and talk about their efforts. If this is done in tandem and in practice, rather than in competitive venues, their communication will get you your "New" Judges PDQ!

Phil Spillman

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hello Phil,
Yes...Keith and Len would be perfect but:
1. They are both active stunt competitors
2. Len moved 2.5 h. by car from the Centennial Park, Etobicoke, Ontario where the hard surface C/L flying circle is located
3. I could not establish any contact with Keith. He is not responding to emails and I have not seen him flying this season.
    Well...we all have to use our best judgement to deal with Covid-19.

I will try to reach Keith, hoping that nothing bad happened to him. I am in touch with Lenny and  Naomi.

Thank you,
Matt