At left, judges Paul Walker (left) and Tim Wescott judge Dane Covey's Advanced Precision aerobatics flight as Mike Haverly (right) and Chris Cox watch from the Precision Aerobatics pits at the 2017 Raider Roundup. Flying Lines photo.
R.F. Stevenson Raider Roundup -- a tale of two days
Sept. 16-17, 2017, Chehalis Airport, Chehalis, Wash.
Saturday and Sunday were two different days, weather-wise, at the 2017 running of this long-running traditional Northwest control-line contest.
Saturday was pleasant, with mild temperatures and just a slight breeze. All the "preliminary" stunt events -- Old-Time, Classic and Profile -- went off with out a hitch.
Sunday, however, was somewhat nasty. It was windy all day, and intermittent rain started about noon. Precision Aerobatics pilots got in their first round of flying, but everyone passed the second round (except for Mike Haverly, who took off, did a couple of manueuvers, and decided that was enough for him!). The two Combat events were shortened from the double-elimination format as the rain settled in. Three rounds of High-Performance 1/2-A Combat were flown by the nine contestants, and then the contestants agreed that the match records and determine the placings without further flying. Four of the 10 fliers dropped out of the 80-mph Combat event, and the remaining six flew two rounds and then used coin flips to determine the final placings.
The sponsoring Northwest Skyraiders did a fine job conducting the contest, considering the challenges posed by the weather. The stunt portion of the contest was administered by Howard Rush; John Knoppi ran the Combat. The scheduled Navy Carrier event was scrapped. Other volunteers were Rod Claus and Bill Darkow, field preparation; Mike Haverly and Rod Claus, equipment toting; Joan Cox, score running; Colton Lutz, tabulating; Rod Claus, pull testing.
The special Crock Pot award was split by John Thompson and Jeff Rein for combined performance in all events. 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. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash., P-47, Plettenberg electric 15-22 -- 593.5 (9)
2. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C., Defiant, Cobra 3528-14 electric -- 586.5 (7.5)
3. Howard Rush, Olympia, Wash., Impact, Plettenberg 20-16 electric -- 580 (6)
4. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash.,Chipmunk Electric -- 533 (4.5)
5. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., Vector 40, O.S. .40LA -- 486
6. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash., Walker AAE, E-Flite 32 --485.5
Judges: Bruce Hunt and Tim Wescott
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Dane Covey, Tacoma, Wash., Pathfinder, electric -- 417 (2)
2. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash., Oriental Plus, O.S. .46 LA -- 403 (1)
Judges: Bruce Hunt and Tim Wescott
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)
BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)
PROFILE STUNT (5 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Starfinder, E-Flite 32 -- 521 (5)
2. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore., Shark S2, Cobra, Fiorotti electric -- 510.5 (4)
3. Dane Covey, Pathfinder, electric -- 494.5 (3)
4. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore., Pathfinder, OS. 46 LA -- 493.5 (2)
3. John Thompson, Scrub J, Evolution .36 -- 483
Judges: Chris Cox and Tim Wescott
CLASSIC STUNT (3 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Chizler, RO-Jett .40 -- 522.5 (3)
2. Dane Covey, Nobler, electric -- 474.5 (2)
3. John Thompson, Blackbird, Aero Tiger .36 -- 446.5 (1)
Judges: Paul Walker and Tim Wescott
OLD-TIME STUNT (2 entries)
1. John Thompson, Barnstormer, O.S. Max .25 -- 266 (2)
2. Dane Covey, Nobler, electric -- 243.5 (1)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Tim Wescott
HIGH-PERFORMANCE 1/2-A COMBAT (9 entries)
1. Greg Machen, Belfair, Wash. (9)
2. John Thompson (8)
3. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. (7)
4. Jeff Cohen, Tacoma, Wash. (6)
Others: Gary Harris, John Knoppi, Gene Pape, Mike Rule, Robert Smith, Buzz Wilson
80mph COMBAT (10 entries, 6 flew)
1. Mike Rule, Emmett, Idaho (6)
2. John Knoppi, Renton, Wash. (5)
3. Jeff Rein (4)
Others: Jeff Cohen, Greg Machen, Robert Smith
Raider Roundup photo gallery
Fred Underwood flies his Shark S2 in Profile Stunt. Flying Lines photo.
The Shark S2 glides in for a landing. Flying Lines photo.
The only new plane on the flight line at the Roundup was Jerry Eichten's Pathfinder with O.S. .46 LA power. Flying Lines photo.
Paul Walker's P-47 is in the foreground of the Precision Aerobatics pits. Flying Lines photo.
Dane Covey's profile Nobler makes a flight in Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photo.
Judges Tim Wescott (left) and Paul Walker note scores as Dane Covey's Profile Nobler passes in a Classic Stunt flight. Flying Lines photo.
Chris Cox's Defiant puts in its Precision Aerobatics flight. Flying Lines photo.
Old-Time Stunt Judges Mike Haverly (left) and Tim Wescott at work. Flying Lines photo.
Gene Pape (foreground) and Gary Harris get planes ready for High-Performance 1/2-A Combat matches. Flying Lines photo.
Winner Greg Machen works on the lines for his 1/2-A Combat plane. Flying Lines photo.
A typical High-Performance 1/2-A Combat plane, powered by a Fora .049. Flying Lines photo.
Mike Rule's Combat plane launcher also serves to hold the plane for engine test runs and other servicing. Flying Lines photo.
Results of this contest are counted in the Northwest Competition Standings
This page was upated Sept. 20, 2017
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