Michael Rogozinsky TEMAC #1

Michael · April 15, 2013, 04:33:44 PM

My name is Michael Rogozinsky.

I've loved model airplanes since I was a kid, but stayed away from RC because I didn't want to fuss with internal combustion engines, so I stuck with free-flight models. Shortly after I got married in 1981, I began to notice some simple electric model airplanes being offered in hobby shops. They were nothing like what we have today, but I was hooked.

In those days, the models were simple foamies with direct drive brushed motors plugged directly into nicad batteries. These planes were underpowered, flew for about 2 minutes at best, and I managed to successfully crash every one I could get my hands onto!
After a few years I saw a poster in a hobby store for a glider and electric RC club in Montreal. I joined right away and asked them how many electric flyers they had; they said "one"; I was the first.

Anyway, they taught me to fly and I really started enjoying myself.

A few years later I moved to Toronto, and when my son became a teenager, he wanted to enjoy the hobby with me. After some investigation, we found out about the casual electric flyers at the 14th Avenue field in Markham, and we became friendly with Robert Pike, John Werner, Ben Feist, Glenn Nikolaiko, Andy Hoffer, John Kusturin, and the other guys.

My flying skills slowly improved, but my son really became a terrific pilot very quickly.

As the years progressed, the quality and quantity of electric-related RC products really advanced in terms of availability and value. The hobby started growing and more people were becoming attracted to the fun. Discussions were endless about the possibility of starting a true RC club dedicated to electric flight, but for a myriad of reasons, the group of us couldn't make it happen.

Finally, I decided it was time. With encouragement from the others, and help from some outside our group, I found a piece of land we could rent, I founded TEMAC as a non-profit entity, and started selling memberships. Now entering our tenth year, we have never lost money, and we have grown into one of the most vibrant RC clubs in Canada.

Personally, I have made an effort to fly as much as I could, and my skill improved. I fly jets, float planes, sport, pattern, giant scale and micro scale, and enjoy all of it. You can often see me at the field with a half-dozen or more models, ready to spend a few hours trying to avoid difficult landings. 

I was president of TEMAC for 8 years, and really ran the club on my own, but I am thrilled to have taken a step back and let our new elected executive continue growing the club. I still participate with some of the board activities and decisions, and I am also one of the club's flight instructors.

After stepping down as president, the new TEMAC executive have renamed our field "Rogo Field" in an attempt to humble me, but that will never happen. My good friend Jack always tells me that my face beams with pride and happiness every time there's a crowd of members enjoying a warm summer evening at TEMAC. He's right; I'm proud of the club and I really love being there. Nothing beats standing at the pilot station and flying my model across the blue sky.

Photos are mostly of me with a few of my planes, one of me auctioning a prize at a funfly, and one photo of my son Adam with his 2-meter pattern competition plane.
Photos are mostly by Andy Hoffer.

Michael · April 20, 2014, 05:45:48 PM

Just for fun, from now on, I plan to post photos of planes that I will be flying.
Here are a few shots (courtesy of Andy and Greg) of some of my planes at a mini-float-fly hosted by Robert at Frenchman's Bay.

Shown are my 1/5 scale Piper Cub, a Polaris delta wing, and my Multiplex Twinstar.

In one of the photos you can see my Twinstar flying over Robert in his retrieval boat.

Michael · February 15, 2017, 01:24:50 PM

piker · February 15, 2017, 06:06:22 PM

So much VANITY!!!

I need to start a build thread

Michael · February 15, 2017, 10:45:46 PM

I don't mean to be vane.
I just want to use this page for the links, instead of searching for them from time to time.

Yes, Robert, I would love to see a building thread by you, or at least some more photos of any of your planes under construction.

Michael Rogozinsky TEMAC #1

Michael

Michael

Michael

piker

Michael