Three days of flying at East Delta Park in Portland, Ore., kicked off the 2007 contest season. Above, the Classic Stunt Planes were lined up in the pits during Saturday, the one rainy day of the three-day multi-event contest. Flying Lines photo.
There was a buzz in the air at the 2007 Jim Walker contest, hosted by the Northwest Fireballs, ably directed by Leo Mehl. You might say it was electrifying.
Yes, some of the buzz came from Paul Walker's spectacular entry into electric precision aerobatics, with the brand new Impact XLE. Paul showed the way into "silent stunt" with a 589.5 score. (See photo gallery below for details about the airplane) But the buzz also came from the excitement of the Northwest's first contest of the year. There was a good turnout for the three days of flying. It started with speed on Friday, racing, carrier, Old-Time and Classic Stunt on Saturday, and precision aerobatics and 80mph combat on Sunday. Friday and Sunday were beautiful days. It was rainy and progressively more miserable on Saturday, but all the events were completed (though most Classic Stunt fliers passed their second round), and spirits were dried out along with the field and the equipment by Sunday.
The Fireballs did a fine job of putting on the contest, which is always a complex affair considering the logistics of the site (one asphalt and two grass circles), hard by busy softball fields. It was a great start to what promises to be a great Northwest contest season.
This contest's scores are reflected in the Northwest control-line competition standings.
NW Standings points in parentheses
SPEED (Record Ratio)
1. Bill Allen, Lake Stevens, Wash. -- Formula 40, 157.69 mph,
98.9% of record (6)
2. Dick Salter, Tenino, Wash. -- Northwest Sport Jet, 148.7 mph,
98.4% (5)
3. Ted Gritzmacher, Battle Ground, Wash. -- Formula 40, 155.92 mph,
97.7% (4)
4. Ken Kortness, Spokane, Wash. -- D, 165,53 mph, 96.3% (1.5)
Mike Hazel, Salem, Ore. -- .21 Sport, 148.58 mph, 96.3% (1.5)
6. Rich Salter, Seattle, Wash. -- NW Sport Jet, no score provided
NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (1 entry)
1. Nitroholics Racing Team, Salem/Eugene, Ore. -- 5:03 heat (1)
FLYING CLOWN RACE (3 entries)
1. Broadway Bod Busters Team, Kent/Covington, Wash. -- 267 laps (3)
2. Nitroholics Racing Team -- 262 laps (2)
3. S&S Racing Team, Seattle/Tenino, Wash. -- 202 laps (1)
NAVY CARRIER (Record Ratio)
1. Rich Salter, Seattle, Wash. -- Nostalgia Profile, 203.28, 79% of
record (5)
2. Mike Hazel, Salem, Ore. -- Profile, 194.87, 55% (4)
3. Walter Russell, Enumclaw, Wash. (5) -- Profile, 110.42, 31% (3)
4. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash. -- Profile, 104.46, 30% (2)
5. Dave Shrum, Roseburg, Ore. -- Profile, 90.59, 26%
CLASSIC STUNT (8 entries)
1. Scott Riese, Portland, Ore. -- 546.5 (8)
2. Pat Johnston, Boise, Idaho -- 545.5 (7)
3. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash. -- 512 (6)
4. Dan Rutherford, Bothell, Wash. -- 499 (5)
5. Greg Hart, Donald, Ore. -- 434
6. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. -- 395.5
7. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. -- 394
8. Don McClave, Portland, Ore. -- 61.5
Judges: Leo Mehl, Steve Helmick
SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (6 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. -- 482.5 (6)
2. Greg Hart, Donald, Ore. -- 476 (5)
3. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash. -- 454.5 (4)
4. Art Zehner, Portland, Ore. -- 380.5 (3)
5. Rich Salter, Seattle, Wash. -- 367
6. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash. -- 343
Judges: Leo Mehl, Steve Helmick
EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (2 entries)
1. Pat Johnston -- 495.5 (2)
2. Dan Rutherford -- 465 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Steve Helmick
BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash. -- 213.5 (3)
2. Richard Entwistle, Scappoose, Ore. -- 204 (2)
3. Joe Just, Waitsburg, Wash. -- 156 (1)
Judges: Steve Helmick, Greg Hart
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (5 entries)
1. Doug Wood, Idaho Falls, Idaho -- 436.5 (5)
2. Rod Claus -- 421 (4)
3. Jeff Rein -- 407.5 (3)
4. Art Zehner -- 370.5 (2)
5. Mark Scarborough -- 290
Judges: Steve Helmick, Greg Hart
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Mike Foley, College Place, Wash. -- 498.5 (4)
2. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. -- 492.5 (3)
3. Greg Hart -- 490 (2)
4. Mike Haverly -- 488.5 (1)
Judges: Bruce Hunt, Dave Royer
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (9 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Kent, Wash. 589.5 (13.5)
2. Scott Riese -- 556.5 (12)
3. Don McClave -- 555 (10.5)
4. Pete Peterson, Tacoma, Wash. -- 554.5 (9)
5. Pat Johnston -- 548.5
6. Randy Powell -- 546.5
7. Jack Pitcher, Gresham, Ore. -- 541
8. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. -- 532
9. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. -- 527.5
Judges: Bruce Hunt, Dave Royer
80MPH COMBAT (7 entries)
1. Ken Burdick, Kent, Wash. (7)
2. Jeff Rein (6)
3. Buzz Wilson (5)
4. John Thompson (4)
5. Gary Harris, Banks, Ore.
Bob Smith, Roy, Wash.
Jim Green, Belleuve, Wash.
Results of this contest are included in the Northwest Control-Line Competition Standings.
Captions for stunt flyint photos above: Top: Paul Walker's Impact XLE in flight; photo also shows the pleasant setting of the Delta Park flying field. Note, no smoke trail! Bottom: Pete Peterson's beautiful Sultan trails the traditional exhaust in inverted flight. Leo Mehl photos.
The star of the Jim Walker Memorial was the Paul Walker Impact XLE, electric powered precision aerobatics plane. Left photo shows overview of gorgeous finish. Flying Lines photo. At right, Paul "fuels" the XLE by changing batteries. Bruce Hunt photo. Airplane data: Paul reports that the motor is a Plettenberg Orbit 30-12, with a Schultzie speed controller with a Kim Dohrty processor powered by a 5S2P4200 Pro Lite Thunder Power Li-Po battery. The propeller is a Brian Eather 13.25x4 corrected to 6" pitch. The plane is an "oversize" Impact at 750 square inches. Total flying weight is 67 ounces, which includes the 17 ounce battery. Full dope finish.
Left photo: Don McClave launches the XLE. Flying Lines photo. Right photo: "Business end" of the XLE, with the cowling open. Leo Mehl photo
Two views of Scott Riese: Tireless club and contest worker, and expert stunt competitor. At left, Scott runs the mower on the grass circles. Leo Mehl photo. At right, Scott starts his LA .40-powered Cobra, with Mike Haverly holding. Bruce Hunt photo.
A couple of unusual airplane photos: At left, the pilot of Joe Just's Classic plane is a witch, seen reading the AMA rulebook. Right photo: Mike Hazel is still flying this plane, called the "Cro Magnon Air Force," which made its debut in the mid-1970s. Second place in carrier! Flying Lines photos.
Left photo: Doug Wood of Idaho Falls, idaho, prepares to start an official flight in intermediate precision aerobatics, with Art Zehner holding. Bruce Hunt photo. Right photo: The well-dressed Broadway Bod Busters team, posing with their weapons after sweeping the top three places in 80mph combat. Team is revived from a 1960s collaboration. Flying Lines photo.
Left photo: Jack Pitcher, with his Centennial, confers with Pat Johnston. Right photo, Randy Powell signals judges as Pat holds the Novi. Bruce Hunt photos.
Left photo: Jack Pitcher launches Don McClave's Skylark. Right photo: Don flying the Skylark. Flying Lines photos.
Left photo: Mike Haverly launches Pat Johnston's P-40 (the original plane from which the Brodak kit was inspired) in the newly constituted Profile Stunt event (formerly P-40). Center photo: Pat prepares to start the brand-new Shark for Classic Stunt, with Randy Powell assisting. Right photo: Lineup of precision aerobatics planes on Sunday. Bruce Hunt photos.
Left photo: Mike Potter's new profile carrier Seafire, with a reverse-rotation Nelson .36 carrier engine up front. The Seafire is designed and built by Eric Conley of Reno, Nev. Flying Lines photo. Right photo: Richard Entwistle signals judges as Art Zehner holds. Bruce Hunt photo.
Left photo: Excellent shot of the front of Don McClave's Skylark. Bruce Hunt photo. Right photo: CD Leo Mehl emcees the trophy presentation. Flying Lines photo.
By Gary Harris
There were 7 entrants, double elimination. No complaining by anyone, not even a mouse. All had fun.
Ken was hot and killed just about everyone. Jeff of course was right there in the hunt the whole time. Buzz has been showing constant improvement.
It was my first combat since the Bladder Grabber and I was rusty. I thought that I was getting better each match. My first match was against Ken and he killed me quick (line tangle but no mid-air). Next match I got up first against Jim Green and we shortly had a mid-air (my only win of the day). Next match was with Jeffrey and it was/woulda' been the best one. We duked it out a little with no line tangles or mid-air but my engine quit twice because of the shut-off . I was too rich, the plane was slower than it shoulda' been thereby allowing the shut-off to work too well since there wasn't enough line tension. At the very end of the match I got a good needle setting, but it was too late, Jeffrey won on air time.
Robert and Jim were eliminated after two rounds. John lasted 'til the semi-finals and lost to Buzz mainly because he had bladder/hose problems and a pinhole leak in front of the needle valve (no way to fix during the match).
Mark Hansen was E.D. for combat and did a fine job. He had help from
Richard Entwhistle and another friend named Sam Baird.
This page was upated April 28, 2007