Paul Walker launches Howard Rush's Impact, with the judges in the background, the Evergreen Aviation Museum at left and one of the museum's airplanes in the far background. Flying Lines photo.
The Evergreen Aero Modelers' annual control-line contest is indeed becoming a true classic event for aerobatics fliers. This year's McMinnville event was characterized by good weather, good food, a fabulous setting for model airplane flying, and a large turnout of CL stunt fliers.
Jerry Eichten, Dave Bibbee, Gene Park, Dick and Shar Johnson and several other helpers made everyone feel welcome and ran the contest smoothly. A luau was organized by Scott Riese and helpers on Saturday night and TEAM provided a barbecue on Sunday.
The Evergreen Aviation Museum has doubled in size since the last contest at the site, now containing also a huge space museum.
Turnout of fliers was excellent, and Contest Director Jerry Eichten kept the activities moving smartly for all of the two days. A tremendous number of flights were put in, and the contest ended by 3 p.m. on Sunday with everyone heading for home with a smile on their faces.
The flying was excellent, topped by Paul Walker with his Impact XLE atop the expert class of precision aerobatics. A good field in all the events made for some tight competition. There was only one minor crash. Quite a few competitors had a bit of trouble with needle settings in the warm weather, and a number of overtime flights resulted in loss of pattern points and low scores. Several new airplanes were seen, with some really beautiful finishes.
In addition to very nice framed certificates for the winners, TEAM gave away a very nice array of door prizes; every contestant came away with a valuable modeling prize. There also was a successful raffle for a Don McClave Classic stunter and a stunt kit.
The contest gained even more enthusiasts and promises to be even bigger and better in 2009.
Here are the results. Northwest standings points in parentheses.
CLASSIC STUNT (13 entries)
1. Scott Riese, Portland, Ore., 543 (13)
2. Bruce Hunt, Salem, Ore., 536 (12)
3. Pat Johnston, Boise, Idaho, 536 (11)
4. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., 512.5 (10)
5. Bob Smiley, Kingston, Wash., 468.5
6. Roy DeCamara, Vancouver, Wash., 468
7. Greg Hart, Molalla, Ore., 460.5
8. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., 427.5
9. Dave Gardner, Renton, Wash., 418
10. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore., 416
11. Dane Covey, Tacoma, Wash., 356.5
12. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash., 316
13. Dan Rutherford, Bothell, Wash., dnf
Judges: Jack Pitcher, Steve Helmick
SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (5 entries)
1. Greg Hart, 444 (5)
2. Rick Cochrun, Marysville, Wash., 432 (4)
3. Mark Scarborough, 428.5 (3)
4. John Thompson, 388.5 (2)
5. Floyd Carter, Eugene, Ore., 341.5
Judges: Scott Riese, Mike Haverly
EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (5 entries)
1. Pat Johnston, 528.5 (5)
2. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash., 502.5 (4)
3. Bob Smiley, 496.5 (3)
4. Dan Rutherford. 480 (2)
5. Keith Varley, Vancouver, B.C.453
Judges: Mike Haverly, Scott Riese
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Pete Ferguson, Washington,
349.5 (2)
2. Mark Scarborough, dnf
Judges: Pat Johnston, Randy Powell
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (7 entries)
1. John Thompson, 511.5 (7)
2. Roy DeCamara 497.5 (6)
3. Floyd Carter 485.5 (5)
4. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash., 485 (4)
5. Greg Hart 483
6. Rick Cochrun 478
7. Dave Gardner, 468.5
Judges: Bruce Hunt, Bob Smiley
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (13 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Kent, Wash., 583.5 (19.5)
2. Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., 571.5 (18)
3. Bruce Hunt, 542.5 (16.5)
4. Scott Riese, 540 (15)
Jack Pitcher, 540
6. Bob Smiley, 529.5
7. Pat Johnston, 526.5
8. Mike Haverly, 523
9. Dan Rutherford, 511.5
10. Keith Varley, 504.5
11. Lee Uberbacher, Lynnwood, Wash., 475.5
12. Randy Powell dnf
Judges: Steve Helmick, Dave Gardner
Registration / Tabulation Dave Bibbee, Gene Park
Pull Test Keith Varley, Lee Uberbacher, Pete Ferguson, Rod Claus
Scorer Runner Jessica Hanson
Lunch Dick & Shar Johnson
Contest Director Jerry Eichten
Sponsored by The Evergreen Aero Modelers
Left: Howard Rush's new Impact, Ro-Jett powered, second place in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Right: Roy DeCamara's Oriental for Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Bruce Hunt's Lark in flight. O.S. LA .46 power, flown in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Right: Jack Pitcher's Centennial in an Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. Flying Lines photo.
Another look at the Centennial, steady in inverted flight. Flying Lines photo.
Mike Haverly's Shrike in an Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. PA .40 power. Flying Lines photo.
Left: Roy DeCamara's beautiful All American phd, which he flies in Advanced Precision Aerobatics. The plane is designed to look like an old-time All-American, but with modern moments. Right: Classic Stunt pit area on Saturday. Hobbnobbing are (left to right) Mike Haverly, Pat Johnston, Roy DeCamara, Keith Varley. Flying Lines photos.
Two views of Scott Riese's Cobra in action: At left, just after a smooth takeoff. At right, just about to touch down. Scott flies this plane in both Classic Stunt and Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Bruce Hunt flying the Lark. Right: New flier Dave Covey of Tacoma, Wash., flies his Oriental in Clasic Stunt, with Bob Smiley helping with the stunt pattern sequence. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Dan Rutherford's Impact, flown in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Right: Rutherford signals the judges as Rick Cochrun holds the Impact. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Howard Rush's Impact passes the judges during an Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. Right: Contest Director Jerry Eichten (left) and Bruce Hunt watch a flight. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Jack Pitcher starts the engine in his Centennial, with judge Dave Gardner in the background and Mike Haverly holding. Right: Mike Haverly launches Jack's flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photos.
Left: Lee Uberbacher's Tempest, flown in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Right: Detail shows the glitter in Scott Riese's Cobra finish. Flying Lines photos.
Wha's wrong with this picture? Yes, Roy DeCamara flies clockwise, and that's Leo Mehl, who also flies clockwise, launching Roy's Oriental. Flying Lines photo.
Left: Dan Rutherford's Wimpact, a scaled-down, profile version of the Impact. Right: Mike Haverly's Shrike, for Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photos.
Lee Uberbacher signals the judges before a flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.
Lee Uberbacher's Tempest in flight. Flying Lines photo.
Pat Johnston carries his mustang to the circle for a flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Below, the Mustang leaves a smoke trail with the Evergreen Aviation Museum in the background. Flying Lines photos.
To get a look at the Evergreen Aviation Museum, go here: www.sprucegoose.org
This page was upated Aug. 27, 2008