District News

D1 | Salvatore Piu spiurc@comcast.net

CT•ME•MA•NH•NJ•NY•PA•RI•VT

Covid-19 continues to have adverse effects on practice-flights and contest activity. With several early-season contests already cancelled, I elected to sponsor a video district tag-up on May 17 using the free google-meet application. Here are some interesting notes from that video conference.

While some fun experiences were discussed, we did cover local happenings across our district. At least one D1 pilot caught and is recovering from the virus. Some pilots are getting some patternpractice flights, but down in quantity for the same time period from last year. Some pilots are only able to get sport flying in, and another group of pilots are not getting any flights in due to combination of virus and adverse weather.

Regions in upper New York State are scheduled to attempt to open earlier than the rest of the region. This is anticipated to open up some localized practice flying opportunities and possibly some contests as well. The Canandaigua, NY contest is considering to re-schedule their event to occur in July, around the time of the NATS, as the pattern NATS has already announced to be canceled by NSRCA. The LVRCS, PA contest has been cancelled. The ARCS, Marcellus, NY contest is still scheduled to occur in July, but the CD is wondering how many people will likely show up. We discussed how Covid-19 will have an impact on how contests will be run. Pilots may need to bring additional equipment, including chairs, pads, paper, pens/pencils, and food including lunch. Calling for pilots will be challenging to do with distancing. One option is to have the caller speak out very loudly from a distance. Another option could be using Peter Vogel’s sequence-calling phone app. Two-day contests may need to be down-sized to one-day events as well.

On key point is the D1 contest listing of events is not up to date within the NSRCA calendar events. I have a table-listing of D1 events within the D1 website to help keep people informed, but this was not intended to be the primary search page for events: the calendar is the primary location. I’ll make an effort to contact and get CD’s to upload their contest info, or help them by doing it myself on their behalf.

One other interesting aspect discussed was FAA impacts to RC. The proposed rules, which we recently responded to by the March 2020 deadline, is not anticipated to become effective until all the comments are read and considered, meaning it could be two-to-three years before the plan becomes effective. Pattern pilots are now considering what future model acquisitions may need to be considered in lieu of the tentative FAA changes, which could be a further reduction in new-pattern-model acquisitions in general. As a side note, I’ve noticed an increase in quantity of used pattern models for sale lately: I wonder if this is a trend tied to FAA-related issues. I informed D1 video attendees the threepart focus of NSRCA at the moment. First address the 2020 NATS, which it has already decided to not support, along with efforts to establish a new team-trials event later this year. Second, we’re planning to change the digital K-factor format to utilized modern-day media capability. This may take a few months to get started. Third, after the k-factor format has been enhanced, we then plan to update/revamp the NSRCA web site.

After the first video D1 tag-up meeting, I setup and sponsored a second D1 video tag-up meeting on June 7th. About 12 pilots joined sporadically throughout the roughly 2 hour session (even though it was scheduled to last 1 ½ hours). Steve Miller heard 2nd hand that D4 recently held a 1-day contest (originally planned as a 2-day event) in Muncie with 23 pilots.

Once again, attendees discussed covid-19 impacts. We did discuss ideas on how to run a contest under these conditions. Everyone needs to keep distance from each other. Callers either need to wear masks (which could be challenging for the pilot to hear the caller) or stay separated. Pilots should bring their own pens/pencils and clipboards. Bring/provide gloves. Don’t touch your face during the event, which I foresee as a major challenge on hot/humid days! Food needs to be planned ahead of the event for Covid considerations such as order out, bring prepared lunches, wear masks while cooking and receiving food, etc. It was noted that we no longer need to wipe down groceries purchased from local stores. Surgical and cloth-based masks are helpful by protecting nearby people from the wearer’s output, but not as good as N95 masks that protect both the wearer of the mask and nearby people. While contest events were still being planned for July and August, several CD’s were wondering how many pilots would show up for a 1 day or a 2-day event. One CD suggested the possibility that if the team trials is separated from the NATS this year, his flying site in/near Mohawk, NY could be considered as a possible teamtrials event site.

After the 2nd video tag-up was done, I got an email with a great suggestion: pilots use ear-buds to hear the caller, which would no longer need to be close to the pilot!

The D1 2020 latest contest season schedule is posted https://nsrca.us/index. php/d1-pattern-contests. As of June 13th, the first D1 seasonal event is now scheduled for July 11, in Pemberton, NJ.

Here is an update to some near-term events: • June 6-7, Sky Chiefs’ Canandaigua, NY event is now cancelled. CD/club is considering to re-schedule this event for some time in July or beyond.

• June 20, HVRC, Haverstraw, NY event is cancelled

We had a small get together pattern practice session on Father’s Day. Dave Lockhart and his dad, Ron, met a local site in New Jersey along with D2 VP, Tim Pritchett. Weather was almost perfect, a little hot when the sun was not behind clouds or the breeze momentarily reduced. We got to see the Pandora fly: it has a massive fuselage comparted to all other models present, including the Allure Bipe! Here are two photos from that gathering.

Maneuver complete, Sal Piu

D2 | Tim Pritchett 740 Baldwin Orchard Drive Inman, SC 29349 | tjpritchett@aol.com

DC•DE•MD•NC•SC•VA

NOTE - The content of this article is dated. The 2020 NATS has been cancelled.

Last month, I announced the dubious cancellation of the NATS by the NSRCA. But, I was wrong in both writing it, and voting for it. For starters, the NSRCA doesn’t govern the NATS; it’s not our event. We’re merely a ‘booster club’, intended by our charter to support pattern, and the AMA….more on that later.

In all actuality, voting on something beyond our control really nullifies the entire affair, but the AMA translated our action as “cancelling participation”, as the position we were taking. For several weeks, we anxiously awaited the announcement by the AMA of whether they would continue their plan for the NATS without us, the NSRCA. Historically, we’ve “run” the NATS for the AMA. That’s the party line anyway. However, even that position is not entirely accurate. Practically speaking, its all the AMA. I say ‘practically’ because 2020 will be my 5th NATS in a row, and 4th as an NSRCA officer. In all of those years, I have never once been approached to do anything for a NATS event. Nor have I ever heard a NATS ED ever solicit help from the NSRCA, as the NSRCA, for support. There are several contributions we make, no doubt, but the running trend has been that the AMA selects the ED (maybe with our help), he assembles a team, and they handle and run the NATS. NSRCA has little if any official NATS input or business. We do however send them a hefty check, at least, historically. After all, we are basically a booster club.

This year, we were put back in our place by the AMA’s decision, reminding us, that we don’t make those decisions. Several days after our, ahem, bold vote, I realized way too late that the scenario we find ourselves in could happen. The board discussed this, and the sentiment was that there was no way the AMA was going to have the NATS without the NSRCA. Not going to happen! Well, here we are. Once the AMA came out with their decision 5 days ago, we once again met and voted to rescind our previous vote to withdraw. That vote did not pass however, and we effectively ratified our decision to abstain from supporting the 2020 NATS. BTW, this poses a stark inconsistency with our stated purpose:

The National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics objective is to promote the construction and competitive flying of radio controlled precision aerobatic model airplanes. To aid, insofar as possible, the Academy of Model Aeronautics and other AMA activities, to further the advancement of model aircraft aerobatics in all of its phases.

Meanwhile, some of us are going ahead with support of the AMA NATS. It is going to be tough; lots of social distancing stuff, masks, separation, etc., no banquet, ice cream, meetings, and so on. It will be very ‘low key’, and low turnout is expected. It will be heartbraking to see so few. As of this writing, today is the last day to sign up (you’re reading a week or so later) and there are ~43 pilots ready to attend. Monte has been a trooper through all of this hoopla, and is to be commended. It’s been divisive, to the extent of proliferating the title, “The non-NATS”, which honestly, is not only another blow against the AMA (read our purpose once more above!), but also insulting to fellow modelers, NATS participants, and supporters of the hobby. With all of these goings on, the question has been asked, and not by me, “Why does the NSRCA exist”? I am honestly challenged with the question. But the answer is obvious, and once again, printed above. I think we just need to buckle up, and get the horse back where in belongs; ahead of our cart.

Archie shared a few pics of his new Cuantic; the first one I’ve seen outside to date. I hope we get the chance to see it on the flightline this year, for sure!

D3 | Robert Campbell

AL•FL•GA•MS•PR•TN

District 3 is still in a holding pattern. Some people are practicing and others are not. Mostly, we are waiting on resolution of Schrodinger’s NATS, which are both alive and dead at the same time. Looks like we’ll have to wait until July and we can observe the NATS to determine if they are happening or not.

D4 | Scott McNickle P.O. Box 163 | Mt. Pleasant, OH 43939 nelson_jett@comcast.net | 740.769.7882

IN•KY•MI•OH•WV

Pie and Whiskey Thanks again Vance

“You can live on pie and whiskey/ But you surely won’t live too long.

That’s the first line from a Vance Gilbert song from his recently released “Good, Good Man” album. Vance is a wise man, a gifted singer and songwriter, a model airplane guy and the inspiration of several of my K Factor columns.

He wrote the song a while back but it sure seems to apply to the world we’re living in right now. Pie and whiskey will sustain you for a short while and may even seem good at first, but it can’t be your daily sustenance.

It’s not bread and butter, meat and potatoes or even kale and tofu.

In the last few months we’ve had so much of what sustains us taken away, and the promise that we’d get it back in a few weeks has mutated to months and years.

People aren’t built to be isolated, and when we’re forced into isolation we do our best to connect with the outside. When the things we enjoy and love are taken away we try to adapt.

When live, in person concerts were taken away resourceful musicians took to the internet to play for us from their back porches, rehearsal rooms and studios. When live auto racing was shut down you could watch drivers compete in sim racing events, and later on regular tracks in front of empty grandstands. When live running went away athletes ran virtual races… going the distance alone on courses near their homes. When we couldn’t get together for Pattern contests we practice on our own (if our fields were open) and gathered in Zoom meetings.

All good efforts, and satisfying for a while, Musicians used to feeding on the energy of an audience show their technical excellence and try real, real hard to recreate the live experience but often just look desperate. The music is there, but you know they’re all alone looking at a camera.

Sim racing is fun, I do it myself. Ask me how many times I’ve “died” in a Lotus 49 Formula One car from 1967, only to have another chance pop up in the headset when I push a button. But sim racing isn’t real, there are few physical demands and no courage is needed.

Real racing in empty speedways just looks like practice when you see the empty stands.

Virtual footraces have all the challenge of a group event, all the suffering without the rewards. My daughter and I did this year’s Pittsburgh Half Marathon by running our 13.1 miles separated by 450 miles and linked by text messages every couple of miles. Nice to know someone is running with you ,but a pale comparison to being in the middle of 35,000 others sharing the adventure in the same place, with the thrill of running on the same streets the elite runners passed by an hour before you.

Our D4 Zoom meetings were a real treat. Just seeing the guys you hadn’t seen all winter was great, and it was cool to see them in their living rooms and workshops. I mean, who knew that Mike Murphy had a picture of Mr. Worff from Star Trek hanging on his wall?

But in the end you just feel sad, because you know you’re making do. You’re substituting something for what you need and you know it’s falling short.

My Blues Bar and Where I Meet My Flying Friends

Alone at the Flying Field

My Virtual Race Track

13.1 Miles All Alone

Isolation gets our demons talking, and long isolation gets us listening to them. Where do you think your weird Uncle Clyde gets all that bilge he uses to ruin your Thanksgiving dinner every year? He gets them from his personal demons, and he reinforces them with the same three buddies at their local watering hole. He never talks to anyone different from him.

Our current isolation is putting us all in danger of being Uncle Clyde. We can pick our demons on the internet and block anyone who disagrees with us. We get deeper and deeper into our own madness. We can exist on substitutes only so long. We need reality soon.

The Good Book says there are three great virtues, Faith, Hope and Love. When I was a kid in Sunday school ‘love’ was translated as ‘charity’, which shows where the author was going. We need to show each other the kind of love that is helpful and generous and tolerant. The kind of love that cuts the other guy a little slack.

We need Faith, Hope and Love, because

“You can live on pie and whiskey, but you surely won’t live too long”.

By the way, buy yourself some Vance Gilbert. He’s one of us and he’s good.

D5 | Vicente Bortone vincebrc@gmail.com

IL•IA•KS•MN•MO•NE•ND•SD•WI

As usual, I like to provide this month D5 activities. As we all know, the several contests have been cancelled. However, have got some good news. Here are:

1. R/C Barnstormers Aerobatic Fun Fly #2. The R/C Barnstormers Club approved this second activity on June 20-21. This is a get together to practice flying, coaching, judging, etc. Also, more important to help new pilots that want to try pattern. I am planning to control the number of pilots at the field so it won’t exceed more than 15 persons. Current allows 45. Therefore, if you are planning to attend please send me an e-mail to vincebrc@gmail.com. I believe this is the best way to keep active until we go back to normal. There is not cost and we are asking pilots to bring their own food and drinks. Also, bring lawn chairs because we want to avoid using the picnic tables available at the field. I think this is perfectly possible for pilots that could drive 3-4 hours each way and avoid hotel stay. For those that like camping the Hillsdale Park has camping areas. The park does not allow camping at the RC field. 2. Tri Village RCers Pattern Contest. Saturday, June 27, 2020 - Sunday, June 28, 2020. CANCELLED 3. KCRC Pattern Contest, Charles Reed RC Field, Lake Jacomo, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. July 11-12. CANCELLED

I got a contest report from Brian Dorf. This contest just happened this past Saturday. I believe this contest is a good example how to deal with the “New Normal”. Here is:

2020 Minnesota Pattern Championships Event Report

In the wake of Covid-19, we had a challenge deciding of it was worthwhile to host our event this year. It was decided at our board meeting on May 5th that we would host the event, but with some key changes. First, no food or drink would be made available. Contestants would be required to bring their own snacks and beverages, second, to comply with state regulations, people that do not share a home must respect a 6 ft distance from others even outdoors. Last, we decided that no trophies would be given out or any entry fee would be collected. This meant that we had no financial commitment for the day and didn’t have to worry about attendance if Covid-19 kept competitors away. Knowing that these challenges could be met, we pressed on. Memorial Day in Minneapolis and the 2 weeks that followed that day were on television around the globe. Hotels and restaurants that had started to reopen as new Covid-19 cases in the state slowed were now closed again amongst daily protests in the streets. Phone calls to contestants from previous years made me quite aware that pilots from out of state were going to be avoiding Minnesota this year. We focused on growing local interest in from club members and decided to also offer the AMA club class this year.

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful Minnesota day. High temps right at 70 degrees and a 10mph breeze quartering in from the South. 6 contestants came to fly in 3 of the classes offered. Honestly, with everything that has occurred this year, I was happy to see 6 people come out to fly. While we waited patiently for the sun to move, Advanced class competitor Randy Brunette from Chilton, WI did a phenomenal job doing a short seminar in both club and sportsman sequences to make sure all pilots were on the same page.

Everyone got in a couple practice flights as we wanted to keep the event laid back and fun for the pilots that knew the turnout was low. Before the first judged flight, the contestants also unanimously voted to shorten the contest from 2 days to Saturday only in light of Sundays forecast of sustained 30 MPH winds with 40 mph gusts (the forecast was right, too!) So 2 in Advanced, 2 Sportsman, 2 in club. By 3 pm Saturday afternoon, 4 rounds were flown and everyone had a good time. 2 pilots in each class along with very close flying gave us a very unique stat: every pilot that flew in the contest won at least 1 round in the class they flew! Here a picture of Anoka beautiful flying field and contest results:

Thank you to Anoka County Radio Control for again hosting this event, especially this year in light of so much uncertainty. Next year, 2021 will mark the 5th year of the Minnesota Pattern Championships. Hopefully the world will be in a much better place by then, so come out and join us!

Brian Dorff AMA 5234 NSRCA 4775

This month I would like to write about ideas or methods have been working for me after flying pattern for many years. I understand that many of you already know some of these.

Electric Components Cooling

System. This is something that we have been aware for glow, gasoline and now electric power. For obvious reasons, I am going to concentrate more in electric power systems but using the concepts that are well known for internal combustion engines cooling systems. Here the details I have been learning:

z The concept that is generally used is that we have to get intake openings to provide cooling to the electric motor and speed controller (ESC). The air temperature increases between the intake and exhaust. I really never have chance to measure the actual increase. However, let’s say that in average is about 40 oF for electric power. For example, if the intake is 80 oF the exhaust is about 120 oF. I believe it is in the ball park. Many times, I have seen that the planes have enough intake area but the exhaust area is not enough. It is evident that we know based on experience that has to be more. The relation is based on air density. When air gets hotter the air density decreases so if we want the air to circulate, we will need to enlarge the exhaust area in relation with the intake. Using the Engineering Tool Box I found that air density at 80 oF is 0.074 lb/ft3 and 0.069 lb/ft3 at 120 oF. This is about 8% less so we have to increase the exhaust air area for about that amount. The rule of thumb we have been using with glow or gasoline engines is 2-4 times. This is because the increase of temperature is much larger. I believe using factor of 2 is safe since accounts for pressure drop.

Example of Intake Air

Example of Exhaust Air

z I have learned that only increasing the exhaust area is not necessarily sufficient to improve the cooling effectiveness. We need to make sure that the air is ducted to the places we need to cool down. This is because the air will flow inside the fuselage following the less resistance route. The motor is not necessarily the best route. I fly contra system since long ago so my experience is concentrated for this system but could be applied to other power variants. I like to duct air to the motor so the air duct blows air directly as close as possible to the motor. I tried to do around ¼” or so. I built the paper air ducts using the same technique that we use to make the paper tube to route the extensions to the tail of the plane. The diameter can be difference depending on location. A picture is the best way to explain.

It is important too to avoid that air flow freely to the canopy. For that reason, many of us already know to cover the front section of the canopy to get the airflow directly to the batteries. The following picture shows the concept.

Example of Side Duct Air to Motor Examples of sides, below air ducts and direct path to ESC cooling fins Example of Canopy Dam

I found that when doing all this together is very effective in reducing all electric components temperature. This also help to improve the life of the system.

D6 | Justin Wells 20811 Surrey Creek Ct. | Katy, TX 77450 832-356-6408 | justin@jtwells.com

AR•CO•LA•NM•OK•TX

The contest season for district 6 officially kicked off with the Colorado Pattern Challenge, June 20/21, with Joe Pirozzoli serving as Contest Director. Joe shared the following info “We had a great contest. A total of 18 contestants in AMA, FAI Silver and EDF (2 of those were exclusively EDF).” Joe and team took social distancing precautions for the entire event and said everything was successful and safe.

Colorado Pattern Challenge Results, 1st-3rd place:

Sportsman: 1. Bill Whichelo 2. Rick Redden 3. Kevin Archer Intermediate: 1. Bill Bancroft 2. Bill Peck Advanced: 1. Chris Hogue 2 Lanny Hansen 3. Bill Grey Masters: 1. Daniel Underkofler 2. Charles Schone 3. Scott Wait F3A Silver: 1. Joseph Pirozzoli 2. William Wallace 3. John Bentley EDF: 1. Dan Underkofler 2. Bill Wallace 3. John Bentley

Around the District: As the pattern season for D6 has started off a little slow, our members have been busy while waiting for things to get back to normal. Here are a few on goings from

around the district:

Mike Harrison (Hot Springs, AR) flying and trimming his new YS 200 powered CK Aero Alchemy. Mike says the plane flies amazing, with the help of Bryan Hebert the plane is trimmed and flying perfect.

Marc Parmelee (Georgetown, TX) is getting back into pattern after a 20-year break. Here is a picture of his newly setup AJ Acuity. Welcome back!

Ben Beyer (College Station, TX) beating the heat and getting practice flights on his De-ja-vu.

Dave Schaefer (Plano, TX) has built Cadence wings for his Wind S Pro. The Cadence is a Mark Hunt design. We are all awaiting the flight report Dave! Cliff Bradford (Grand Junction, CO) is building an Element ARC and painting it in his retro 1995 Meridian 900 color scheme. Cliff has provided proof of the original color scheme from 1995

We look forward to the final product. Gary Kropat (Georgetown, TX) dusted off his 1986 Tiporare clone (FK Career 60) powered by a piped Rossi .60 turning 16,000 RPM. It looks like the need for speed has arrived for Gary. Joe Pirozzoli (Denver, CO) and his Element at the Colorado Pattern Challenge. Joe is one of our Contest Director’s and puts on a top-notch contest for Western D6.

I look forward to reporting on the LARKS contest in Sulphur, LA in the August issue. We have a busy fall ahead; a few contests are re-scheduling so be sure to check out the D6 smart phone app as well as other social media outlets for the latest contest information.

Contest Calendar Look Ahead:

LAMA - Dacono, CO - August 29/30

Ft. Bend - Rosenberg, TX - September 12/13

Space City - Katy, TX - September 26/27 *new dates

Brazos Valley Fall Pattern - College Station, TX - October 3/4

‘Till Next Time, stay safe!

Justin

Hello As I mentioned last month, Tony’s Stick build inspired me to try actually building something, so I purchased the 30” span rubber band powered Piper Cub a laser cut kit from Easy Built Models (https:// easybuiltmodels.com). I have started working on it and as of writing this I’ve framed up both wings. The kit is very nice. The Laser Cutting is perfect. It is so much better than the last time I built one of these with die-cutting: Another thing I didn’t have when I was a kid was a magnetic building board. Much

D7 - Dan Lipton nsrcad7dvp@gmail.com

AZ•CA•HI•NV•UT

easier to work with than pins.

And after 4 sessions of work….

But there is still much sanding to do, and it is, as I found, too easy to break those 1/16” spars while sanding.

People here in NorCal have been getting some flying done, now that things have re-opened. Here is Derek’s beautiful new biplane on a very windy but beautiful sky

day at EBRC:

In other news, the Riverside club hosted what has been the first pattern event since shelter in place started. It was a classic pattern “fly-in”. Here is the report:

Tenth Annual Classic Pattern Get-Together By Robert Fish

The tenth annual Classic Pattern GetTogether (CPGT) was held on Saturday, June 6th, 2020 at the Riverside Radio Control Club field, located in Perris California. The CPGT is a low pressure “Fly-In” style of event. Pilots come from miles around to share their love of classic pattern aircraft, and one maneuver per pass pattern flying.

MKinspired Chipmunk built by Tom McNicolas. Electricpower

The weather was a pleasant 74 degrees, with broken cloud cover. Temps can soar into the 90’s at this time of year, so this was a treat.

Dirty Birdy, YS power

This was an ideal event for these times, as there were no common items like clipboards, scoresheets etc. to worry about spreading any wayward virus. This event is normally reserved for classic pattern style aircraft, but since people had been locked down on house arrest for the last couple of months I decided to open it up to all types of pattern aircraft including 2 meters planes and EDF jets. This makes for a nice cross-over atmosphere, and made it possible for more people to attend.

Riverside county had relaxed the mask mandate, so it was left to the individual

to decide that matter for themselves. People mixed and distanced themselves accordingly. There were no problems encountered.

We had twenty entries, including 2 EDF’s and one 2 meter airplane. The classic planes ranged from ARF’s to some hand built beauties, and a couple of original survivors. There was rarely a time when we did not have 2 or 3 airplanes in the air. Lots of stick time was logged. We will occasionally hold a “Pilot’s Choice award, and/or a 2 round “non-contest”, but that was out the window this year for the reasons outlined above. If you are looking to hold an event to build interest in pattern in your area, this a an ideal format. It is easy to run, and brings in more people than with a regular contest, as many are scared off by the ominous word “contest”. The CPGT has been a vehicle for bringing in many people that would not otherwise attend, and several have gone on the become “regulars” at both classic and contemporary pattern events. Give it a try! -Robert Fish The next District 7 contest on the schedule is a 1 day Classic pattern event at OCMA and then the next one after that is the 2 day contest in Riverside. This is schedule to be held on August 15th - 16th. Hopefully things will continue to ease up and we will be able to enjoy seeing each other there.

Smooth flying.

Dan.

D8 | Art Kelly 367 Golf View Drive | Medford, OR. 97504 541.905.2954 | afkelly25@gmail.com

AK•ID•MT•OR•WA•WY

2020 will be known as the year of the Zoom. And that’s not an aircraft. All our planning, our socializing and tidbits on building are now digital. How to get back in the air and how to do it safely in a world doesn’t have clear answers nor any sense of direction is an enormous challenge. In District 8 we have had regular “Zooms” with our CD’s. We have conducted surveys among our pilots to evaluate their comfort level in going to contests. At this date a handful are prepared to make the trips. Our contests have bounced from on to off and back to on again. Some flying fields are beginning to open. Yet there is apprehension among many D-8 pilots about venturing out to events. And those decisions must be respected. With three contests remaining in our season we are rechecking with pilots prior to each date to determine their interest in flying.

None of us had this on our radar, even in early March, just three months ago. In many ways this is a Perfect Storm for our hobby, among all the SIGS. Within the discussions on the NSRCA board are questions about how this will impact our hobby? One of the great recruiting tools we have had in our pattern community is the turnouts of interested spectators who show up for our contests. Curiosity leads to questions and questions lead to “how could I try this out?” We don’t have that this year.

A few years ago an expression that became popular in the business community was “Strategic Inflection Point.” This is ours. It’s time to start looking toward the 2021 season. Among all of us who want to see pattern flying continue and expand there should be a shared obligation to start promoting. We are all in proximity to other clubs and we can easily get invited to make a presentation about pattern, to get conversations going, to start building curiosity, to plan for clinics and club contests. It won’t start on its own.

With all that said, there is nothing that can get the blood pumping faster than seeing a 2M bird going through its sequences against a crystal blue sky.

Sean Mersh dials in some fine tuning on the maiden flight of his new Angel’s Shadow, smooth as silk.

My Allure tests out its wings for first time since mid February.

Canada | Paul Brine 25 Robertson St. | Fergus Ontario N1M3P7 519.787.5144 | pbrine@uoguelph.ca

This is the time of the month that I sit down to a blank screen and usually with a blank mind to generate this column. So for this year there have been no contests held with all planned events up to the end of June being cancelled or postponed so I do not even have any contest results and the only photo to share is one of the field already for an event that won’t happen this year.

My own one day contest scheduled for June 13th was cancelled due to the COVID restrictions. Even though the contest was cancelled the weather was typical for the Pattern Primer - cold and windy. I wasn’t even able to take advantage of the field for flying and practice.

Nicely mowed, rolled twice all ready for the Fergus Pattern Primer

We are now in the middle of June and in Ontario we are now beginning to see some reopening after everything has been shut down since mid March. As of this week we can now have gatherings of up to 10 people and in most parts of Ontario stores are reopening, restaurants are allowed to open outdoor seating and patios, and most importantly for many, hair salons are open again. As of June 20th, Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex remain closed although the increase in gathering numbers does apply to them. The businesses that have been allowed to open are restricted in the numbers allowed in, social distancing requirements apply and various municipalities have additional restrictions such as requiring masks.

Although businesses like hair salons are open again it may take awhile to get in. My wife booked a haircut as soon as they reopened and the earliest appointment available was a month away.

The rules and requirements are continually changing and evolving so this may have changed by the time this is published. Check your local government websites and news reports for the latest information.

Most fields have reopened for flying although a few remain closed. The ones remaining closed are mostly fields that are located in public parks. Even the new maximum of 10 people for public gatherings (in Ontario) effectively prevents holding a contest as the limitations on numbers allowed for gatherings make it impossible to hold an event. The continued closure of restaurants and amenities make travel difficult. I understand that there are similar issues in the rest of the country. The border closure for non-essential, travel which has been extended to July 21st, and quarantine rules on return have eliminated the opportunity to travel to contests in the U.S.

I remain cautiously optimistic that by the end of July the rules will be relaxed enough we will be in a position to hold contests. Individual provinces are setting their own rules and it appears that the western provinces are ahead of us on reopening and relaxing travel restrictions.

The weather has limited my flying opportunities so this season. We have had alternating periods of below seasonal temperatures, usually accompanied by wind and rain, followed by very hot and humid weather. If you happen to belong to a large club the limit on numbers at the field can make it difficult to get any flying in. Fortunately, one of the clubs I belong to is small and having 10 pilots out would be half the club. We don’t usually get many out other than for a meeting or event.

The next F3A World Championship is to be held in Muncie Indiana in 2021. The team for 2021 can be up to 5 members: 3 open, 1 junior and 1 female. For more information. The team trials to select the team for the 2021 World Championships will be held Sept 5&6 at the 905 Squadron contest in Aurora. Registration is due by the end of June. For more information, please contact Harry Ells.

Contest Schedule

Here is the planned contest schedule as of mid June for the rest of the season. Check the event listings on the MAAC website and the F3A Canada website for the latest information.

Pattern in the Valley, Surrey, B.C. - July 11-12 (tentative) Jim Eichenberg Memorial, Oakville ON - July 25-26

B.C. Precision Aerobatics

Championships, Victoria, B.C. - Sept 5-6 905 Squadron Contest, Aurora ON - Sept 5-6

That’s all for now. Flight complete.

Paul