A lineup of beauties awaits Precision Aerobatics appearance judging on Sunday morning of the Regionals. From foreground, the planes are Norm Whittle's electric Sultan, Paul Walker's electric Impact XS, Mike Haverly's electric KISS, David Fitzgerald's Thunder Gazer and Brett Buck's Infinity. Flying Lines photo.
Western North America's tighly knit fraternity of control-line model airplane fliers held their annual "family reunion" on Memorial Day Weekend, gathering in Eugene, Ore. for three days of flying and friendly, hard-fought competition. Intermittent showers for the first two days and some brief windy periods added a challenge, but the contest went off relatively smoothly. Attendance was the same as last year, 81 competitors, though several others entered and were present who did not fly.
Field setup work began on Thursday morning under the direction of Eugene Prop Spinners President Mike Denlis on Thursday at 10 a.m. Post-contest teardown was done by 7 p.m., again under Mike's direction. Mike organized a large crew of workers that got things done on a timely basis. Among the work crew were: Mike Massey, Brian Massey, Bill Badstubner, Tom Kopriva, Gene Pape, Jim Corbett, Mike Hazel, Dave LaFever, Gordon Rea, and quite a few contestants who pitched in at various times. The complex job of registration was directed again by Kathy Thompson with help from Barbara White, who also was the hard-working stunt tabulator. Commemorative shirts featured the Avenger stunt plane flown by Regionals contestant Mark Scarborough. Food was provided by a new local vendor, Devour, which got good reviews from the fliers.
Thanks are due to numerous trophy sponsors as well as to prize donor/sponsors. Donating or sponsoring prizes were Eugene Toy & Hobby, Brodak Manufacturing, Don McClave and Bruce Hunt. Numerous Northwest modelers and supporters sponsored trophies.
A highlight of the contest was the Methuselah Award, presented by the Reno-Sparks modelers' group to the oldest contestant, Leo Mehl. Leo turned 79 on Memorial Day. Bruce Perry of Edmonton, Alberta won the coveted Concours d' Elegance award for his maginificent Jester airplane for Precision Aerobatics. Several Regionals and Northwest records were set in the Navy Carrier circle. Three new events, C Speed, Northwest Sport 40 Carrier and Nostalgia 30 Stunt, made their Regionals debuts.
Plans already are under way for Regionals No. 41, on the same site on Memorial Day Weekend of 2012. See you there!
Elsewhere on the Flying Lines web site, see updated Northwest standings, Northwest records and Regionals records.
Bruce Perry's Jester was the Concours d'Elegance winner, chosen by a vote of the Precision Aerobatics pilots. Flying Lines photo.
Combat Champion: Buzz Wilson
Navy Carrier Champion: Burt Brokaw
Racing Champion: Mac Ryan
Speed Champion: Paul Gibeault
Stunt Champion: Gordan Delaney
Precision Aerobatics Concours 'd Elegance: Bruce Perry (Jester)
Methuselah Award: Leo Mehl (78 years old)
VINTAGE DIESEL COMBAT (6 entries)
1. Don McKay, Redmond, Wash. (6)
2. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. (5)
3. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. (4)
4. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash. (3)
5. Lee Letchworth, Rodeo, Calif.
6. Jim Green, Bellevue, Wash.
80-MPH COMBAT (8 entries)
1. Buzz Wilson (8)
2. Jeff Rein (7)
3. Lee Letchworth
4. Robert Smith (5)
5. Jim Green
Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore.
Don McKay
One other entry did not fly.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE 1/2-A COMBAT (7 entries)
1. Gene Pape (7)
2. Buzz Wilson (6)
3. Jeff Rein (5)
4. Jim Green (4)
5. Lee Letchworth
Robert Smith
Don McKay
Photo: 1/2-A Combat action between Buzz Wilson (left) and winner Gene Pape. Flying Lines photo.
Mike Potter launches a Navy Carrier plane from the aluminum deck. Flying Lines photo.
CLASS I NAVY CARRIER (3 entries)
1. Burt Brokaw, Tucson, Ariz., 452.6
2. Jim Schneider, Mountain House, Calif., 427.9
One other entry did not score
CLASS II NAVY CARRIER (4 entries)
1. Burt Brokaw, 464.1 (Regionals record, eclipsing 2010 record of Burt Brokaw, 448.3)
2. Jim Schneider, 451.7
3. Eric Conley, Gardnerville, Nev., 448.8
One other entry did not score
PROFILE NAVY CARRIER (4 entries)
1. Burt Brokaw, 398.4, (Regionals record, eclipsing 2010 record of Burt Brokaw, 377.2)
2. Jim Schneider, 307.8
3. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash., 280.5 (2)
One other entry did not score
.15 NAVY CARRIER (5 entries)
1. Eric Conley, Gardnerville, Nev., 294.7 (Regionals record, eclipsing 2010 record of Eric Conley, 269.3)
2. Jim Schneider, 271.5
3. Burt Brokaw, 268.6
Two other entries did not score
CLASS I/II NOSTALGIA NAVY CARRIER (1 entry)
1. Burt Brokaw, 624.4 (Regionals record, eclipsing 2010 record of Bob Parker, 506)
PROFILE NOSTALGIA NAVY CARRIER (6 entries)
1. Burt Brokaw, 491.7 (Regionals record, eclipsing 2010 record of Burt Brokaw, 461.7)
2. Rich Salter, Seattle, Wash., 437.1 (5) (Northwest record, eclipsing Mike Conner record of 413.3, set May 28, 2010)
3. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore., 421.9 (4)
4. Dick Salter, Tenino, Wash., 236.1 (3)
5. Jim Schneider, 177.1
One other entry did not score
NORTHWEST SPORT 40 NAVY CARRIER (3 entries)
1. Jeff Rein, 190.8 (Establishes Regionals record) (3)
2. Mike Potter, 181.3 (2)
3. Ronald Anderson, Vancouver, Wash., 163.8 (1)
MOUSE RACE CLASS I (4 entries)
1. Ron Howell, Aberdeen, Wash., 524.65 (4)
2. Paul Gibeault, Leduc, Alberta, 5:39.03
3. Iain Dowling, Vancouver, B.C., 30 laps (2)
4. Bruce Duncan, Langley, B.C., 3:28.87 heat (1)
NORTHWEST FLYING CLOWN RACE (3 entries)
1. Mac Ryan, Burbank, Wash., 287 laps (2)
2. David Shrum, Roseburg, Ore., 182 laps (1)
One other entry scratched.
NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (7 entries)
1. Mac Ryan, 7:58.59 (7)
2. Burt Brokaw, 9:17.78
3. Greg Nelson, Roseburg, Ore., 77 laps (5)
4. Todd Ryan, Spokane Valley, Wash., 4:12.3 heat (4)
5. Paul Gibeault, 4:19.34 heat
6. David Shrum, 6:19.67 heat
One other entry scratched.
NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE (4 entries)
1. Paul Gibeault, 7:31.07
2. Todd Ryan, 7:52.92 (3)
3. Burt Brokaw, 7:57.72
One other entry scratched.
Photo: Northwest Sport Race action with pilots (from left) Greg Nelson, Paul Gibeault and Todd Ryan. Flying Lines photo.
PRECISION SCALE (0 entries)
SPORT SCALE (0 entries)
PROFILE SCALE (0 entries)
1/2-A SPEED (3 entries)
1. Jerry Rocha, Napa, Calif., 128.71 mph
2. Paul Gibeault, 91.19
One other entry did not score.
1/2-A PROTO SPEED (8 entries)
1. Jerry Rocha, 105.75 mph
2. Karl Caldwell, Sparks, Nev., 90.92
3. Paul Gibeault, 90.78
4. Don McKay, 87.58 (5)
Ken Burdick, Kent, Wash., 87.58
6. Jeff Rein, 80.84
7. Buzz Wilson, 71.89
One other entry did not score.
A SPEED (3 entries)
1. Brad Anderson, Salt Lake City, Utah, 172.33 mph
Two other entries did not score.
Photo: Jerry Rocha's pretty .21 Proto Speed plane. Flying Lines photo.
B SPEED (3 entries)
1. Mike Hazel, 108.35 mph (3)
Two other entries did not score.
C SPEED (4 entries)
1. Paul Gibeault, 165.98 mph (Establishes Regionals record)
2. Ken Burdick, 135.18 (3) (Established Northwest record)
3. Mike Hazel, 104.57 (2)
4. Karl Caldwell, attempt
Ken Burdick's C Speed plane set a Northwest record in the new speed class. Flying Lines photo.
D SPEED (2 entries)
1. Louie-Louie Team, Kent, Wash./Mehama, Ore., 166.98 mph (1)
One other entry did not score.
JET SPEED (0 entries)
NORTHWEST SPORT JET SPEED (3 entries)
1. Jim Rhoades, Salt Lake City, Utah, attempt
Two other entries did not score.
FORMULA 40 SPEED (1 entry)
1. Paul Gibeault, 158.49 mph
FAI SPEED (2 entries)
1. Paul Gibeault, 109.39 mph
One other entry did not score.
.21 SPORT SPEED (4 entries)
1. Jerry Rocha, 149.94 mph
2. Brad Anderson, 148.88
3. Karl Caldwell, 141
4. Dick Salter, attempt (1)
.21 PROTO SPEED (1 entry)
1. Jerry Rocha, 136.74 mph
F2D PROTO SPEED (7 entries)
1. Ken Burdick, 98.52 mph (7)
2. Mike Hazel, 95.83 (6)
3. Jeff Rein, 95.27 (5)
4. Buzz Wilson, 89.05 (4)
5. Dick Salter, attempt
One other entry did not score.
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (19 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Kent, Wash., 613.33 (28.5)
2. David Fitzgerald, Napa, Calif., 604.33
3. Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., 591.67 (25.5)
4. Norm Whittle, Layton, Utah, 590
5. Gordan Delaney, Layton, Utah, 588.67
6. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C., 584
7. Brett Buck, Sunnyvale, Calif., 579.67
8. Bruce Perry, Edmonton, Alberta, 579
9. Phil Granderson, Oakland, Calif., 577.67
10. Ted Fancher, Foster City, Calif., 577.33
11. Jim Aron, El Cerrito, Calif., 567.33
12. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C., 538.67
13. Pat Johnston, Boise, Idaho, 537.67
14. Jim Rhoades, Salt Lake City, Utah, 527.33
15. Dan Rutherford, Bothell, Wash., 523.33
16. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore., 472.67
17. Jack Pitcher, Windsor, Colo., 333
18. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., 186.67
One other entry did not fly
Judges: Don McClave, Bruce Hunt and Richard Walbridge.
Photo: Paul Walker's Impact XS makes an official flight. Flying Lines photo.
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (18 entries)
1. Richard Walbridge, Fresno, Calif., 490.5
2. Gary Gingerich, Thatcher, Ariz., 488
3. Dave McCheyne, Delta, B.C. (16)
4. Steve Helmick, Renton, Wash., 481 (15)
5. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash., 469.5
6. Keith Varley, Vancouver, B.C., 468.5
7. Bob Duncan, Fair Oaks, Calif., 464.5
8. Neil Rogers, Edmonton, Alberta, 456.5
9. Rick Cochrun, Marysville, Wash., 448
10. Lanny Shorts, Truckee, Calif., 446
11. Clint Ormosen, Marysville, Calif., 426/441
12. Brian Moore, Elk Grove, Calif., 441/424.5
13. Heman Lee, Sacramento, Calif., 419
14. Dave Royer, Portland, Ore., 417
15. Richard Entwhistle, Scappoose, Ore., 400
16. Rodney Claus, Kent, Wash., 371.5
Two other entries did not fly.
Judges: John Leidle and Joan Cox
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (8 entries)
1. James Harper, Portland, Ore., 430 (8)
2. Brian Massey, Madera, Calif., 420
3. Mike Massey, Cottage Grove, Ore., 416 (6)
4. Bryan Carr, Calgary, Alberta, 415.5
5. Gordon Rea, Eugene, Ore., 376
6. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash., 340
7. Rob Moseley, Missoula, Mont., 196
8. Russell Shafer, Klamath Falls, Ore., 141
Judges: Scott Riese and Rod Claus
BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (4)
1. Glenn Little, Vancouver, B.C., 194.5 (4)
2. Paul Bedford, Maple Ridge, B.C., 179.5 (3)
Two other entries did not fly.
Judges: Scott Riese and Rod Claus
CLASSIC STUNT (15 entries)
1. Brett Buck, 549
2. Ted Fancher, 537.5
3. Gordan Delaney, 531
4. Alan Resinger, 504.5 (12)
5. Mike Haverly, 498.5
6. Mark Scarborough, 491.5
7. Pat Johnston, 491
8. Jim Rhoades, 469.5
9. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash., 465
10. Clint Ormosen, 462.5
11. Heman Lee, 459.5
12. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., 456
13. Brian Moore, 441
14. Lanny Shorts, 426
15. Rex Abbott, 361.5
Judges: Paul Walker and Richard Walbridge
Photo: Dan Rutherford's Wimpact makes a flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.
NOSTALGIA 30 STUNT (1 entry)
1. Richard Entwhistle, 358 (1)
Judges: Paul Walker and Richard Walbridge
OLD-TIME STUNT (11 entries)
1. Dan Rutherford, 286.75 (11)
2. Don McClave, Portland, Ore., 283 (10)
3. Burt Brokaw, 282.5
4. Jim Aron, 281
5. Bob Duncan, 273.5
6. Dave Royer, 258.75
7. Jim Rhoades, 253.5
8. Floyd Carter, Eugene, Ore., 246
9. Lanny Shorts, 237.25
10. Rex Abbott, 213
11. Russell Shaffer, 196.75
Judges: Leo Mehl and Alan Resinger
SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (15 entries)
1. Rod Claus, 490.5 (15)
2. Rich Cochrun, 485.5 (14)
3. Dave McCheyne, 482 (13)
4. Dave Royer, 478.5 (12)
5. Bob Duncan, 471
6. Richard Entwhistle, 466
7. Russell Shaffer, 440
8. Bryan Carr, 439
9. Gordon Rea, 423
10. Lanny Shorts, 421.5
11. Brian Moore, 416.5
12. James Harper, 405
13. Rob Moseley, 375
14. Steve Helmick, 365.5
15. Rex Abbott, 322.5
Judges: Leo Mehl and Bruce Hunt
EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (6 entries)
1. Gordan Delaney, 546
2. Pat Johnston, 536.5 (5)
3. Dan Rutherford, 533 (4)
4. Howard Rush, 532 (3)
5. Keith Varley, 504.5
6. Jim Rhoades, 438.5
Judges: Leo Mehl and Bruce Hunt
Mike Haverly's new electric-powered stunter was dazzling but met an early end in a crash on an official flight. Flying Lines photo.
Phil Granderson's American Pi kept up his high standard of spectacular finishes. This one's electric. Flying Lines photo.
Three solemn judges faced the difficult task of evaluating the Expert Precision Aerobatics flights. From left: Bruce Hunt, Don McClave, Richard Walbridge. Flying Lines photo.
Yellow seems to be a popular color for Pathfinder Profile Stunt planes: On left in Lanny Shorts' plane; on right is Rod Claus's. Flying Lines photos.
Two more profiles: On left, Rob Moseley's Pathfinder, on right Rick Cochrun's Profile Impact. Flying Lines photos.
Two Polaris profiles by Keith Varley. Flying Lines photos.
Two Classic Stunt planes: On the left, Jim Rhoades' Oriental; on the right, Gordan Delaney's All American Eagle. Flying Lines photos.
Former World Champion David Fitzgerald's Thunder Gazer. Flying Lines photos.
Former national champion Ted Fancher's Trivial Pursuit. Flying Lines photos.
Former national champion Brett Buck's Infinity. Flying Lines photo
Rich Walbridge's Cardinal. Flying Lines photo.
Northwest Sport Race planes in the pits, ready for action. Flying Lines photo.
Racing Grand Champion Mac Ryan pits his Northwest Sport Race plane.. Flying Lines photo.
Under the watchful eye of Speed Event Director Mike Hazel, Rich Salter weighs a speed plane. Flying Lines photo.
Mike got a lot of handle time in the Speed circle. Flying Lines photo.
Ken Burdick needles his C Speed plane after Brad Anderson worked the starter. Flying Lines photo.
Two speed planes. Flying Lines photo.
Combat judges working a match, from left: Dave LaFever, Jeff Rein, Tom Kopriva. Flying Lines photo.
Stunt Event Director Scott Riese (left) watches the action with Howard Rush. Flying Lines photo.
Stunt tabulator Barbara White, hard at work. Flying Lines photo.
Gordan Delaney's full-bodied Pathfinder looks good in the air Flying Lines photo.
Jim Schneider starts the engine on a Navy Carrier plane, with Burt Brokaw holding. Flying Lines photo.
...and the launch. Flying Lines photo.
An electric Navy Carrier plane by Eric Conley. Flying Lines photo.
Pat Johnston repairs his Bearcat. Flying Lines photo.
Gary Gingerich's Russian-built ARF stunter in flight. Flying Lines photo.
Two Old-Time Stunt planes. Flying Lines.
Lee Letchworth's Bigfoot 80mph Combat plane, after a bash. Dwayne Graville photo.
Old-Time Stunt pits. Flying Lines photo.
Two Old-Time Stunt planes: At left, Dan Rutherford;s Zilch, and on right, Don McClave's Jamison Special comes in for a landing. Flying Lines photos.
Jim Rhoades heads to the center for an Old-Time Stunt flight, as Bob Duncan holds. Flying Lines photo.
Old-Time Stunt judges Alan Resinger (left) and Leo Mehl. Flying Lines photo.
American Junior, an original design by Dave Shrum, powered by Fox 25. Rex Abbott photo.
Mark Scarborough poses with the plane that inspired the 2011 Regionals shirts, his Avenger, designed by Don Shulz. Flying Lines photo.
And working behind the scenes: The guys who make it all happen. Eugene Prop Spinners members work on setting up the field for the contest on Thursday morning. Flying Lines photo.
By Gene Pape
How can you have so much fun in such rotten weather? I guess it's just great people. The judges, Tom Kopriva, Dave LaFever, Ken Birdick, and the contestants, Lee Letchworth, Buzz Wilson, Don McKay, Robert Smith, Jim Green, and Jeff Rein. What a pleasant group for me to run an event with and for.
First, congratulations to Buzz Wilson who was ready to fly every event, won 80MPH, and took home the Grand Champion Trophy. Congratulations to Don McKay for winning D-Bat.
1/2-A has become my favorite of the events flown regularly on the Northwest. The matches were close enough that we had to re-fly several of them because a winner could not be clearly determined. A special thanks must go to Jeff Dawson who created the airplanes we all flew and for donating the Fora .049 as the prize for first place. Buzz Wilson and I flew without a loss until we were finally matched against one another. I won the first of our three matches, Buzz came back to win the second, and I somehow lucked out to win the third. I don't think a single model was destroyed in the entire event. Jeff Rein, who is still recovering from back surgery a month ago, emerged from a 3 way flyoff to finish third.
80 MPH started out with several good matches on Saturday. We usually finish 80 MPH on Saturday, but a serious shower came through about 4:00 Saturday afternoon and put a halt to the flying. It was so cold and nasty that Robert Smith couldn't get his motor started for what would have been the last match of the day. In 80 MPH, Buzz came in ready to fly. He flew the entire event without a loss. Jeff Rein continued his success by placing second, and Lee Letchworth was third. I was relieved to be out after three matches so I could enjoy watching.
Photo: Buzz Wilson (left) and Jim Green duke it out in Combat. Dwayne Graville photo.
Vintage Diesel Combat is a unique event. The people who fly it are starting to learn how to actually make these things fly reasonably well. It was nice to see Jeff Rein's Splinter so there was a model that didn't look like all the rest. Don McKay's planes for this event were a cut above what everyone else has been flying in this event, and he proved it by winning. Jeff Rein was again consistent with a second place finish, and Robert Smith, who had been flying well all weekend, ended up with third. Buzz Wilson hung on for 4th place, which was just enough to win the combat champion trophy for him.
This event provided the most combat to watch, and the highest entertainment value. Only in this event could you see two contestants walking from the combat circle to the adjacent circle while still flying their airplanes and holding hands. Only in this event could you see an attack on a streamer result in the opponents streamer and stream wrapped around the attackers crankshaft killing the attackers motor. The model that had been attacked towing the attacking model around until they both crashed. The streamer and string was then carefully unwrapped from the attackers crankshaft, and no cut had been scored. Both airplanes were then restarted and resumed the match.
I hope everyone else involve enjoyed this year's Regionals as much as I did. It appears we need to do some work to increase the level of participation. I'll toss around some ideas with everyone between now and then.
Results of this contest were included in the Northwest Competition Standings.
This page was upated June 8, 2011