Author: Darryl Dove (“Pidge”)
Yeah, g’day thrillseekers.
After a foggy and chilly start (check out the photos, especially Booie Range and James and Bill), Sunday saw more great flying after the greatly-appreciated bacon and egg muffin breakfast cooked up by the canteen crew of Denis, Gary and myself and lots of steaming coffee or tea. The sausage sizzle lunch at the end of the flying comp went down a treat thanks once again, to canteen convenor Denis, with Jan, Gary and Braz wielding the BBQ tools.
KAMS members Mark Brazier, Gary and Jan Mackie, Ian and Lee Howsego, Marshall and grandson with two little grandsons, and Scott Jarron who, after considerable pressure to his sore arm, went back to town and returned overhead in his Pitts bi-plane to entertain us all with some full-size aerobatics, much to the appreciation of everyone on the ground. Scott also did a similar display on Friday, just for practice and because he can. Thanks heaps Scott.
We also had visits from a couple of young 10 year old potential RCAV8R enthusiasts; Ethan with his mum and Grandparents, and Cody with his mum. Ethan’s Grandfather Ian, had previously brought him out a few weeks ago with his little brother, both of which had some “buddy box time” with Fran. I’m not sure who had the most fun that day!!
The Queensland Precision Aerobatics competition visit to KAMS Booie field was certainly an eyeopener not only for the precision flying, but also the technology used to score the flights, and then communicate those scores to the global Precision Aerobatics fraternity was fascinating to see in action. As each pilot went through the set sequence of manoeuvres, the individual progressive scoring by the two peer adjudicators was entered in a iPad/tablet-style device. Those scores were then sent, in real time, via wi-fi modems, routers, servers and computers on site, into cyberspace, to be accessible from anywhere around the world. That meant that any aerobatic pilot entered in the upcoming World Precision Aerobatic Championships in Warwick in August was able to check out potential adversaries on the other side of the world, in real time.
Well, that was my “techno-challenged” understanding of what James McAllen, the QPA comp techy dude told me. Kingaroy Aeromodellers Society and Booie field were mentioned on a number of occasions during James’ many live video posts to Facebook over the two days competition. James is hoping to have live video coverage of the comp next year as well and is trialling the video camera system in a rehearsal for the Worlds within the next couple of weeks. I thank James for his tolerance in explaining it all to me. Fascinating.
Equally impressive was the aerodynamic design features of some of the aircraft. Peter Pennisi’s Leader-A1 biplane (PP Leader-A1) as well as what I referred to as the “winged keel” and boat hull-like bow seen in S3 along with the cannelised wings above the canopies and wing/tailplane cut-outs on Steve Johnson’s Interceptor all make for more efficient use of airflow around, over, and under the aeroplane depending on the attitude/manoeuvre – inverted, straight and level, or knife-edge, according to Steve.
Two of the competing pilots used the comps at KAMS as practice for the World Championships. Peter Pennisi is in the Australian team, and Steve Johnson will be representing New Zealand. So there was definitely world-class flying at our humble little field which every pilot enthusiastically rated as one of the best flying sites around. But we already knew that, eh.
And the firepit earned its keep as well by providing some comfort to the campers.
That’s wrap from me.
Happy flying and soft landings.
Cheers.
Darryl Dove (“Pidge”)