The Stunt-a-Thon precision aerobatics contest is held annually at Thun Field, also known as Pierce County Airport, in Puyallup, Wash. Right next to the stunt pits and only a short distance from the circle is the Hangar Inn restaurant. This photo captures Jeff Rein's Smoothie in flight at the 2007 contest, as restaurant patrons watch from the deck. Leo Mehl photo.
Somehow it didn't seem to matter that it was cloudy and a bit breezy on Saturday, and intermittently rainy on Sunday. After all, the thunder and lightning didn't start until the contest was over and the equipment being picked up. It did, however, make the officials and contestants race through the prize ceremony!
Even with the changing weather, almost all the flights were made in all the rounds, with very few passes. Northwest fliers are, after all, used to this kind of thing. A few pilots did get a bit drenched when rain started after takeoff. Most came equipped with rain gear (mandatory for Northwest flying).
All in all, the 2007 running of the annual stunt and carrier contest in Puyallup was a rousing success under the guidance of Contest Director Howard Rush. Having that restaurant and the aviation supply store right handy to get dry and well-fed didn't hurt at all. We're already making plans for next year!
Below are the results. Northwest standings points in parentheses.
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (8 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Kent, Wash., Impact XLE, Plettenburg -- 572.5 (12)
2. Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., Impact , OS .40VF -- 552.5 (10.5)
3. Pat Johnston, Boise, Idaho, Johnston Mustang, Stalker .51 RE -- 544.5
(9)
4. Jack Pitcher, Gresham, Ore., Centennial, PA .61 SE -- 535 (7.5)
5. Scott Riese, Portland, Ore., Cobra, Scott Riese .40 LA -- 534.5
6. Pete Peterson, Tacoma, Wash., Sultan, RO-Jett .40 -- 532.5
7. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash., Slider OS, .40VF -- 524
8. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore., Grinder, OS .46 LA -- 54
Judges: Dave Gardner, Steve Helmick
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (5 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., Oriental Plus, RO-Jett .40 -- 492 (5)
2.Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash., Smoothie, Magnum .36 -- 482 (4)
3. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., Vector 40, OS .40 LA -- 459 (3)
4. Dave Pellerin, Kirkland, Wash., Whitely Shoestring, Saito .72 -- 439
(2)
5. Dave Gardner, Renton, Wash., Johnston Epiphany, ST .60 -- 419.5
Judges: Pete Peterson, Steve Helmick
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash., P-40 ARF, OS .46 LA -- 357 (2)
2. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash., no score reported
Judges: Pete Peterson, Steve Helmick
BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash., Flite Streak, OS .20 FP -- 238 (1)
Judges: Pete Peterson, Steve Helmick
CLASSIC STUNT (8 entries)
1. Scott Riese, Cobra, Scott Riese .40 LA -- 538 (8)
2. Don McClave, Portland, Ore., Skylark , OS .46 LA -- 534.5 (7)
3. Pat Johnston, Shark .35, OS .46 LA -- 520 (6)
4. Bob Smiley, Kingston, Wash., Oriental Profile, Brodak .40 -- 500.5 (5)
5. Mike Haverly, J. D. Falcon, Brodak .36 -- 489
6. John Thompson, 1959 Ares, Brodak .40 -- 486
7. Jeffrey Rein, Smoothie. Magnum .36. -- 465.5
8. Mark Scarborough, Oriental. OS .35 FP -- 371
Judges: Steve Helmick, Dave Gardner
OLD-TIME STUNT (5 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Jamison, L&J Fox .35 -- 298.5 (5)
2. Bob Smiley, Jamison, Brodak .40 -- 298 (4)
3. Jeffrey Rein, Smoothie, Magnum .36 -- 270.5 (3)
4. Scott Riese, Humongous, Atwood Triumph .49 -- 258 (2)
5. Buzz Wilson, Ringmaster, OS .35 FP -- 219
Judges: Bob Parker, Dave Gardner
Photo of Mark Scarborough's Oriental in flight by Leo Mehl.
EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Bob Smiley, Oriental Profile, Brodak .40 -- 519 (3)
2. Pat Johnston, Brodak P-40, OS .46 LA -- 494 (2)
3, Jerry Eichten, Newburg, Ore., Brodak P-40, ST .51 -- 440 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Steve Helmick
SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (2 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Twister, Magnum .36 -- 409.5 (2)
2. Mark Scarborough, P-40 ARF, OS .46 LA -- 338 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Steve Helmick
PROFILE NAVY CARRIER (2 entries)
1. Bill Darkow, Tenino, Wash. -- 105.9 (2)
2. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash. -- 101.5 (1)
NOSTALGIA NAVY CARRIER (2 entries)
1. Mike Potter -- 208.8 (2)
2. Thadd Faussett, Graham, Wash. -- no score
Left: Mike Haverly with his Oriental Plus. Right: Dave Pellerin with the Whitely Shoestring. Randy Powell photos.
Thun Field (Pierce County Airport) in Puyallup, Wash., is the site of the Stunt-a-thon. One feature is a restaurant right next to the pits, visible in the left photo behind (from left) Jeff Rein, Buzz Wilson and John Thompson. Right photo: Mark Scarborough (left) and Pat Johnston. Randy Powell photos.
Left photo: Takin' it easy at the Stunt-a-Thon (from left) Scott Riese, Bob Smiley, Don McClave, Howard Rush, Bob Parker. Right photo: Mark Scarborough and GeeBee. Leo Mehl photos.
Left photo: Lineup of Classic planes in the Thun Field pits, as Don McClave puts lines on the Skylark. Right photo: Mike Haverly's Falcon in flight. Leo Mehl photos.
Left photo: Pat Johnston flies the Shark in Classic Stunt. Right photo: Pat (right) and Paul Walker chat in the pits. Leo Mehl photos.
2007 Stunt-a-Thon was a successful weekend of control-line aerobatics competition, despite intermittent rain on the Sunday, which made fliers keep their planes hidden away in dry cars most of the time. Two planes waiting for second-round advanced flights were the only ones outside when this picture was taken on Sunday afternoon. Randy Powell photo.
Results of this contest were included in the Northwest Competition Standings.
This page was upated June 24, 2008