Fred Underwood finishes up a practice flight for Profile Stunt at the Chehalis Airport, while other Profile entries wait in the pits. Flying Lines photo.

R.F. Stevenson Raider Roundup moves back to Chehalis

Sept. 17-18, 2016, Chehalis Airport, Chehalis, Wash.

A threatening weather forecast kept attendance down, but after some rain and a bit of wind on Saturday morning, conditions settled into a pleasant atmosphere for control-line flying at the annual Raider Roundup. Sunday saw a pleasant temperature and almost dead calm air.

The Roundup returned to Chehalis, Wash., as the sponsoring Northwest Skyraiders have lost the Auburn, Wash., flying site that has been the venue for several years. Bill Darkow led an effort to clean up and prepare the Chehalis Airport site, and it was in fine shape for the contest. The return to Chehalis also allowed for a return of Combat to the contest, and six fliers showed up on Sunday for the 80mph Combat event.

The stunt portion of the contest was administered by Howard Rush; Buzz Wilson and Jeff Rein ran the Combat. The scheduled Navy Carrier event was scrapped because of low attendance.

Chris Cox won the Expert Precision Aerobatics event, while Robert Smith captured the Combat title. See Buzz Wilson's report on the Combat event below.

The special Crock Pot award went to John Thompson for combined performance in the five events -- Old-Time Stunt, Classic Stunt, Profile Stunt, Precision Aerob atics and 80mph Combat. The Crock pot is a cash award given annually by the family of the late R.F. Stevenson, the longtime Skyraider for whom the contest is named, who liked to call himself, "an old crock." "Steve" believed that one should always have $100 in his pocket, and his AMA number was 5529 -- hence the award amount of $155.29.

Here are the results. Northwest standings points in parentheses.

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C., Defiant 5, Axi 2826/13 electric -- 604 (9)
2. Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., Impact, Plettenberg 20-16 electric -- 602.5 (7.5)
3. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash., Slider, E-Flite 32 electric -- 572 (6)
4. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., Fifth Element, E-Flite 32 -- 570.5 (4.5)
5. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash., Impact, E-Flite 32 -- 554.5
6. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., Vector 40, O.S. .40LA -- 553
Judges: Pete Peterson and Addis Elmore

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Addis Elmore, Redmond, Wash., Moriah, O.S. .35 -- 466 (2)
2. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore., Cardinal, O.S. .40FP -- 403 (1)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Jim Johnson

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

PROFILE STUNT (4 entries)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore., Shark S2, Cobra, Fiorotti electric -- 558.5 (4)
2. Mike Haverly, Starfinder, E-Flite 32 -- 548.5 (3)
3. John Thompson, Scrub J, Evolution .36 -- 516.5 (2)
4. Mike Hazel, Cardinal, O.S. .40FP -- 435 (1)
Judges: Tim Wescott and Mark Scarborough

CLASSIC STUNT (2 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Chizler, RO-Jett .40 -- 435 (2)
2. John Thompson, Blackbird, Aero Tiger .36 -- 482 (1)
Judges: Pete Peterson, Jim Johnson and Mark Scarborough

OLD-TIME STUNT (2 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Jamison Special, Brodak 40 -- 282.5 (2)
2. John Thompson, Ringmaster, O.S. .26 4S -- 258 (1)
Judges: Mark Scarborough and Tim Wescott

80mph COMBAT (6 entries)
1. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. (6)
2. John Thompson (5)
3. John Knoppi, Renton, Wash. (4)
4. Greg Machen, Belfair, Wash. (3)
5. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash.
6. Travis Machen, Belfair, Wash.

80mph Combat report

By Buzz Wilson

Six flyers showed up to fly 80mph combat at the R.F. Stevenson Memorial Raider Roundup. On Sunday, Sept. 11, Travis Machan soloed and on Wednesday he flew his first speed limit plane. This was Travis’s first contest. For those of you that do not know Travis, he is the 5-year-old son of Greg Machan.

At the pilots' meeting we agreed that everyone would fly each other which meant five matches each.  For Travis’s matches, his dad would act as circle marshal and coach Travis.  Jeff Rein and I shared the running of the event. There were some great matches. One of the best was Greg and John Thompson.

Travis got his first cut against John.  Against me he got three cuts by getting behind me and taking multiple cuts.

When the dust settled Robert Smith had the most wins. Three flyers had the same records of three wins and two losses. Looking at their records against each other settled the next three places. (Results above.)

At the awards ceremony, Travis received the 2016 Northwest Best New Combat Flyer award.

Raider Roundup photo gallery

Mark Scarborough's Impact is at the front of the lineup of Precision Aerobatics planes on Sunday. Flying Lines photo.

Fred Underwood's Shark S2 and the other Profile Stunt planes await action. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Hazel puts up an official flight in Advanced Precision Aerobatics, with judges Jim Johnson (center left) and Mike Haverly (center right) watching. Flying Lines photo.

The registration and tabulation table was protected from the possibility of bad weather; Contest Director Howard Rush can be seen at work. Pete Peterson (right) flew Old-Time and judged other events. Flying Lines photo.

Preparations are underway for 80mph Combat. From left are Buzz Wilson, new flier Travis Machen, Robert Smith and Greg Machen. Flying Lines photo.

John Knoppi gets his Combat planes ready. Flying Lines photo.

Results of this contest are counted in the Northwest Competition Standings

This page was upated Sept. 19, 2017

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