"Here comes the
judge!"
By Jack Hodgson
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Here is the judge!
Bob Reece serves as chairman of Homebuilt Judging, a massive
task that requires a platoon of volunteers employing modern
technology in an old-fashioned quest for the best. Photo by Dave
Higdon |
Each year, hundreds of
aircraft come to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh hoping to win one of the builder
awards, especially the highly coveted Grand Champion. EAA, and the
volunteer judging teams, take their responsibilities for judging
aircraft very seriously, and both put a lot of thought and effort into
recognizing the best of the best.
Bob Reece is the chairman
of the Judging Standards Committee and is responsible for watching over
the quality of judging for all the divisions.
The judging in each
division—like Homebuilt, Warbird, Ultralight—is managed by a chief
judge with his or her own group of judges. Reece is also the chief judge
for the Homebuilt Division.
About half of the
homebuilt aircraft that come to AirVenture are entered by their builders
for judging. Which means judging all these planes is a big undertaking.
A lot attention goes into
selecting and training quality judges, and making sure their evaluations
are as informed and consistent as possible.
Reece has high standards
for his judges. He evaluates new candidates for experience, background
levels, attitude, and other things. He requires a commitment from his
judges.
"I ask them to be
here every day, all week long, and for several years. I have judges who
have judged for me for over 30 years. And I’ve got one judge, this is
his second year."
The homebuilt category is
unique in that there is a wide variety of construction techniques to be
judged.
"You’ll have sheet
metal aircraft, tube and rag, you’ll have wood, composites. Everyone
who wants to be a judge is not an expert in all those disciplines."
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Judgment day. This
stunning homebuilt reproduction of a classic Waco comes under
the critical eye of Homebuilt judges as Jim Dobben (left) and
Jim Powell, both of Midland, Michigan, look for excellence in
the tiniest details. Photo by Dave Higdon |
Reece has a system to
cross-train new judges so they are knowledgeable about all the
construction methods.
"If a new person
comes in and is a sheet metal expert, I will put that person with a
composite judge for a day or two, and then I’ll switch them to a
fabric expert. And over a period of two or three years, I have that
judge trained in all the construction disciplines, and they can go out
and judge any aircraft on the field."
The judges come from a
variety of backgrounds. Reece has judges who are aeronautical engineers,
A&P mechanics, and past award winners. One judge is a French woman
who is an aeronautical engineer for Airbus.
"It’s the only job
on the airport where you really get to see the airplanes."
The judges work hard to
examine every aspect of the planes.
"You’ll see my
judges laying on their backs out there looking up under the landing
gear."
Managing to take a good
look at hundreds of planes, over just a few days, is a big logistical
challenge.
When owners want their
plane to be judged, they put a green "Judge Me" sticker on
their propeller card. On the first day of the fly-in judges fan out over
the grounds to take a first look at all the planes.
"As the week goes
on," says Reece, "the aircraft that are falling out on top,
score-wise, you’ll see more judge’s initials on that little Judge Me
card."
Judges carry a small Palm
Pilot handheld computer to record information about the planes. Then,
back at the Homebuilt Judging headquarters, that information is uploaded
to a desktop computer, which compiles the results.
Throughout the week,
judges meet to discuss, and privately critique, the front-runner planes.
Then, they head back out to inspect them some more.
Judges will also take
note of safety issues on the planes they inspect. Serious problems will
be passed on to an EAA Technical Counselor who will meet with the
builder.
Occasionally builders
will ask for feedback on their work. In that case, Reece and a few
judges will accompany them out to the aircraft to give tips and
pointers.
Reece is careful to be
sure that the builder is really ready for constructive criticism. The
judges have no desire to hurt the feelings of builders who have put so
much time and effort into their project planes.
All the judging must be
accomplished by noon on Friday. The judges make their decisions, and the
results are turned over to the Awards chairman who orders the engraved
trophies for all the winners. The trophies are awarded Saturday night.
Reece has been an AirVenture judge for 36
years. When he’s not here working at AirVenture, he is
"retired." He is an A&P mechanic with an IA, and he runs a
small airport, "Reece Private," south of San Angelo, Texas.
Reece is also an EAA director.
