NOTAM – BRCM Members cleared to land at Bayview Airpark

We have cleared all the hurdles with Transport Canada (TC), insurance, City of Burlington, etc. and are good to go. So we can be up and flying on what looks like a very nice weekend.

Please keep in mind, though, that you must adhere to TC regulations. In particular, you must:

  1. Pass the RPAS Basic exam to obtain your Pilot Certificate.
  2. Register each plane with TC (Google TC RPAS registration or go directly to https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/registering-your-drone-overview).
  3. Have your registration number visible on each plane.
  4. Read the updated Safety Management Manual
    (especially the new TC Regulations Summary on pages 12 & 13)

IMPORTANT!

Remember to have your flight log and TC Pilot Certificate with you at the field.
Only BRCM members are permitted past the safety fence to the pit and flying field.
We are here to have fun and fly our planes safely.

Enjoy!!

Brian Harrington – An Interesting Personality!

Our BRCM Club has some very interesting members. Brian Harrington is one of them. Brian is an up front, direct, no nonsense type of a guy with a military stature, friendly and approachable.

I first met Brian in 1996 at our Bronte Field as he assembled his Gypsy Moth model. After our introductions, he asked me if I knew Don Pritlove. a fellow recreational parachutist. I said that he is my brother, then we connected. Well, Brian and I were in the RCAF Reserve 424 Squadron at Mount Hope. I was trained as a Munition and Weapons Technician and Brian was an Airframe Mechanic. We then began sharing stories of people we both knew.

A little history: Brian was born, raised and educated (Mohawk College) in Hamilton. He became a MAAC member (2738) in 1956, and built his first model, a Goldberg J-3 Cub. While in the air force (1959-1964), he learned to fly full scale in a PA-18 Super Cub. Also, at this time, Brian was a founding member of the Hamilton Sport Parachute Club. A busy guy!

After the air force, in 1964, Brian became a member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Chapter 65 and began to build a Corben Junior Ace in his basement. He never finished the Corben and sold it because his wife needed a car for work. Incidentally, Brian bought this same Corben in 2022, then did some upgrading work to make it airworthy. Brian then sold the Corben and bought and is still flying a Vans RV3A. All this time he was still building and flying R/C models with the Hamilton Flying Tigers.

A new interest was offered —- restoring and test flying full scale aircraft with four other guys in Hanger #4 at Mount Hope Airport. These aircraft included Harvards, a Tiger Moth, Boeing Stearmans and other trainer type aircraft.

Brian decided to go BIG TIME and joined Warplane Heritage and began flying Beach 18, Harvards, Chipmunks and other A/C types.

A milestone in Brian’s log book: In 1986, an Air Canada employee, vacationing in Florida, saw a Lockheed L10A airplane with very vague Trans Canada Airlines signage. Upon returning home, he alerted Air Canada management. An investigation determined that this aircraft was one of the first three Trans Canada Airlines planes that flew from Victoria, BC to Seattle, Washington in 1937. It was purchased, flown to Winnipeg and underwent a million dollar renovation. Air Canada contacted Warplane Heritage who recommended Brian to test fly this airplane because no Air Canada pilot was current on this type. Brian spent a week, all expenses paid, in Winnipeg and successfully completed 10 test flights to certify the L10A. WOW!

In 1985, Brian joined our BRCM Club and built some big complex models, i.e., 112 inch Beach 18, 90 inch Hawker Hurricane, etc. He was also instrumental in the 1987 building of our first

paved runway and in 2021, the repair to remove the infamous runway dip.

In 2015, Gary Arthur told Brian I was ready to sell my Turbine Powered Boomerang model. We met at the field, then Brian flew the Boomerang—–he was hooked. Since that flight he has had about 15 turbine models!

Brian builds fast and is a meticulous scale modeler; however they don’t seem to last too long in his hanger. We often see a new model at our field, then hear it has been sold or traded within a couple of weeks. He has lost count of the number of models he bought, built, sold or traded.

So playing pool in his recently renovated games room the other day, it was lots of fun chatting with someone who shares your interests and memories of aviation life!

Good stuff, Brian—–Thanks. Cheers, Ted Pritlove

NOTAM (CANCELLED) – All pilots grounded until further notice!

Dear BRCM Member

As we look ahead to the New Year, one issue dominates the Club. How will the MAAC crisis regarding controlled airspace resolve, and how long will it take? No one can answer this question.

However one thing is clear. At the present time, we MUST abide by the present rules and remain grounded. From the original email:

“the MAAC Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all outdoor flying activity, effective immediately. “

If individual fliers ignore the suspension, they risk not only losing their own membership, but also de-sanctioning the Club. In another letter, the MAAC president states:

“If you fly your model in Canada in defiance of the MAAC suspension, you could face disciplinary actions from your club and MAAC. If you fly an RPAS you will be flying under the Canadian Aviation Safety Regulations Part IX and could face disciplinary action from Transport Canada which could include fines for individuals and clubs.”

We can hope that this grounding will be temporary, but for the moment, the right course of action is to play the game and be a little patient.

We are moving to explore how we might proceed if the unthinkable happens and MAAC can no longer speak for fliers in Canada. I am creating a task force to explore these issues, and ensure we will be in a position to deal with any eventuality. However, with luck the issues will be resolved expeditiously at a national level and we can resume flying under MAAC umbrella soon.

Geoff. Norman

President

Message from the President

It took about 48 hours for the flying season to end. Last week we benefitted from several days of glorious summery weather and calm winds. Then came the weekend and suddenly we’re in winter. It looks like it’s here to stay, so for most of us, except a stalwart few, this signals the end of flying for a while.

It’s also time to pause and recognize the major contributions of many Club members who have contributed long hours to maintain the field and plan activities.

FIELD MAINTENANCE

Keeping the grass under control is a BIG job. We have two individuals scheduled each week to cut grass and two others to trim the weeds. That’s each and every week from May to November.

A huge vote of thanks to:

Field managers Ken Sisler, Ross Gosling, Dwayne Baldwin

Grass cutters Ken Sisler, Ross Gosling, Frank Pilih, Dave Darling, Ashley Armstrong, Tony Madge, Peter Foto, Dominique Binckly, Steve Waterfall, Dwayne Badwin

Week trimmers Marty Field, Robert Christie, Mike Penney, Geoff Norman

SPECIAL EVENTS

Ian Brown organized 3 special events over the summer: Maidenfest in May, EDF Day in July and Corn Roast in September. The weather gods cooperated and turnout at all events was amazing. Feedback was very positive. We even got photos from the Corn Roast in the centerfold of RC Canada magazine.

Special thanks to the following: John Ham, Dave Darling, Barry Parkinson, Bill Ayre, Pete Foto, Don Irvine, John Zellman and undoubtedly some others who should also be counted.

WINGS PROGRAM

Chair Don Irvine

Instructors Eric Klebsch, Paul Penney, Barry Parkinson, Brian Harrington, Branko Jazvac and Tom Norton

OTHER ROLES

Membership: Steve Waterfall

Webpage: Dwayne Baldwin

General Maintenance: Dwayne Baldwin, Bill Ayre

Facebook Ian Brown

Photographer John Ham

We all owe a round of applause to these people who have given so freely of their time. As I assembled the list it didn’t escape my notice that compared to overall membership, they are a small minority, with many folks doing multiple roles.

It goes without saying that without people stepping forward to volunteer, the club would not be sustainable. I am aware that many more people do give their time in less formal ways by helping others at the field. But I hope each of you will give some thought to how you might commit to helping out when the next flying season rolls around.

Geoff Norman

An Act Of Kindness

Chris, Hugo, Eric

Since I live just a few minutes away from our Bayview Air Park, I drop by often during the day. One afternoon last month, I saw an older gentleman sitting on a type of wheeled walker with Eric Klepsch standing beside him holding a transmitter. I asked Eric’s dad, Chris, what’s happening?

Well, the gentleman’s man is John Amos and at 82 years of age, he wanted to learn to fly radio control models before he got too old!

Apparently, John does not drive anymore, lives in an apartment; so Eric picks him up with his Apprentice Trainer, then drives him to our field. A commitment well beyond most of our instructors expectations.

Eric has dedicated an enormous amount of time helping, training, and test flying a lot of our models. In fact, he rarely has time to fly his own models because of his willingness to help others. Chris said they have three models to test fly, but Eric becomes too busy helping other members. Eric said with the help of Chris and son Hugo, he has trained close to twenty members in our club. He currently has two students. Eric is no stranger to instructing. He has been an instructor in several clubs from Vancouver’s big RCFCBC Club to clubs in Brampton, Campbellville and Oakville.

In Eric’s words——-“it’s always very satisfying to help others experience the joy of R/C modelling. I’m giving back as aviation began for me with models, leading all the way to a top Captain with Air Canada. Models teach aerodynamics better than books. I can’t say which type of flying I enjoy better.”

So I thank Eric and Chris for the help they have given me and other club members.

Cheers, Ted Pritlove

For Sale: 700E/F3C Parts

(Kit is Sold, only spare parts left)

Some of the parts are F3C-specific, and some are cross-over to non-F3C. Please look at the pics and reach out with questions and/or offers.

The pricey parts (aside from the BNIOB canopy) are collected in the later pics – the one that shows about 26 items. The balance are listed below:

HC7602T Canopy $50 BNIOB

HN7055AT Tail Boom Braces $15/ea.

HN7056T Torque Tubes $18/ea. * One with bearings/one without *

H70073A Carbon Tail Control Rod Assembly $15 * Not new WYSIWYG*

HN7047T Tail Booms $25 for sealed 2-packs, $8/ea. for singles. * The sealed twin-packs include the thin steel “bicycle spoke” rudder linkage rod + the guide rings…the rest are singles. All are new *

Email: ronemca@gmail.com