Welcome to Torrey Pines GullsParviz Kamiab – Modeler of the Year – 2006
Parviz came to the United States from Iran in 1969 to study at Wichita State University in Kansas. He completed his bachelor's degree in engineering in 1975 and moved to California not long after in 1978 to begin work in a series of electronics-related companies. Starting at ACDC Electronics, he worked on the development of power supplies. He then switched to Topaz helping to design line conditions and backup power supplies for computers. Parviz then spent six years at Hughes before transitioning to New Era to help work on a product for new voice over IP (VOIP) protocols. He finished his electrical engineering career at Interface Displays and Control in Oceanside helping to develop instrument panels for advanced military aircraft and retired in 2016.
However, as with many of us, Parviz always had a dream to fly. In 1983 he earned his private pilot’s license and continued to fly for another 15 years with his own aircraft, racking up ~700 hours in the skies over southern California landing at just about every airport possible with an IFR rating. But flying in real aircraft became increasingly expensive and in about 1987 he decided to take a look at model aviation as a hobby. By this time his kids were grown up and out of the house and there was more time for other activities.
Parviz didn’t know anyone in the model aviation community but someone mentioned to him that the Torrey Pines Gulls were flying at Torrey Pines and in Poway. He showed up at Poway as he felt that was a safer place to learn than in the sometimes crowded skies at Torrey. At Poway he found everyone in the TPG to be extremely helpful, getting him set on winch launching, despite shoulder issues. He was hooked.
Parviz went to buy a kit to get started. Thinking that the kit was “ready to fly” he was surprised when he opened the box at home only to find lots of balsa sticks and plans. Despite this he built the plane, but made some errors leading to the decision that in the future, ready to fly was the only way to go. Terry Throop, Cliff Hunter, Keith Finkenbiner, Mike Smith, and many others helped get him flying on its own. Once comfortable, Parviz tried flying at Torrey and also began enjoying the slope as that allowed for much longer flight times. While the skies weren’t as crowded as today he still enjoyed the airspace flying with a spotter and finding everyone in the club to be so very friendly and helpful, especially Ray Pili and others. He purchased a Sharon 3.7m for thermal duration from the Fogel family and now had the confidence to do well in contests.
While having so much fun with the club and making new friends, Parviz felt it important to give back. He volunteered for many positions: Membership chairman, Secretary, etc. It was at this same time that the club was searching for leadership as no one was eager to step up and serve as President. Cliff Hunter took Parviz aside and suggested that he consider running for President for 2 years and before he knew what happened, Parviz was President for 2 years and surrounded himself with a solid core of hard-working board members including Tom Minegar as Treasurer and others. During this period, Parviz flew regularly at the monthly thermal duration contests at Poway, and then at Encinitas when that field became available. He flew less and less at Torrey due to the crowds. At that time the club also used to have regularly monthly meetings in Balboa Park and Parviz’s introduction of Persian food at the end of year holiday party was such a hit that it was repeated several times to come. For his service as President and in other capacities the TPG honored him with the Modeler of the Year award in 2006.
Over time Parviz became focused on work and other things and reduced his flying only to thermal duration contests at Encinitas. He also found his way to the Joint Military R/C Flyers (Camp Pendleton) and Palomar R/C Flyers (Fallbrook). Parviz would love to thank Mike Smith, Cliff Hunter, Keith Finkenbiner, Tom Minegar, Ray Pili and others who helped him in the past – he has fond memories of good times with friends in TPG.