Lineup of planes in the pit area at Auburn Airport for the Dick Scobee Memorial. Bruce Hunt photo.
The Northwest Skyraiders held the first formal contest at the Auburn Municipal Airport, hoping to show off control-line flying and eventually secure a permanent flying site at the airport. The contest had good attendance and good weather. The results and photos here are provided by Bruce Hunt. Following is the official contest report by organizer Pete Ferguson.
Friday, Aug. 20, was a practice day at Auburn Airport. Club members showed up at 9:30 a.m. to prep the parking ramp for flying. Circles were measured, marked and coned-off tiedowns were covered. Work was accomplished quickly and the rest of the day was spent flying. Some members arrived at 5:30 p.m. so flying continued until 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 21:
The ramp was open for practice at 9 a.m. Ben Jones was the pit boss and pull tested all of the competing planes. Upon weigh-in, each member had his photo taken with his plane to be used for awards presented later. Howard rush organized the judging (list attached) and scorekeeping with help from Mrs. Emmett and Mrs. Parker.
The first rounds of Old-Time Stunt were started at 10 a.m. There were five contestants in OTS. Two consecutive rounds were flown. The 3 flyers in order were Pete Peterson, Dan Rutherford and Keith Varley.
The first round of Northwest Profile was started around 11 a.m. We broke for lunch in between the first and second rounds, and completed two rounds of Profile around 2 p.m. The three flyers in order were Randy Powell, Dan Rutherford and Steve Helmick.
The first round of Classic was started around 2:30 p.m. Two rounds were flown. The top three flyers in order were Bruce Hunt, Pete Peterson and Mike Haverly.
At 4 p.m., awards were handed out for the three classes flown. The awards were photo trophies which were put together by Dave Gardner on site.
Saturday evening, all of the participants were invited over to Mike Haverly's house for socializing and spaghetti dinner. The turnout was excellent with many wives in attendance. The food was excellent and lots of stories were swapped.
Sunday, Aug. 22:
Practice began at 9 a.m. Since Rex Abbott was the only non-advanced flyer he agreed to fly in the advanced class. The first round of dvanced started about 10 a.m. The first rounds of advanced and expert were flown consecutively.
The second round of advanced started around 2 p.m. and all flying was completed around 4 p.m.. Pete Ferguson lost his (actually Dave Gardners Ephiphany/DS60) plane when it abruptly went rich and ran out of fuel in the clowerleaf. The top flyers in order were in advanced, Keith Varley, Steve Helmick and Pete Ferguson; in expert they were Howard Rush, Brude Hunt and Dan Rutherford.
Awards were handed out and the site was cleared by 5 p.m.
Here are the results. Northwest standings points in parentheses.
OLD-TIME STUNT ( 5 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Tacoma,Wash., 299.5 (5)
2. Dan Rutherford, Bothell, Wash., 297.5 (4)
3. Keith Varley, Vancouver, B.C., 284 (3)
4. Dane Covey, Tacoma, Wash., 209 (2)
5. Bob Emmett, Sequim, Wash., 58.5
Judges: Mike Haverly, Dave Gardner
CLASSIC STUNT (9 entries)
1. Bruce Hunt, Salem, Ore., 543 (9)
2. Pete Peterson, 524.5 (8)
3.Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., 521 (7)
4. Dan Rutherford, 515 (6)
5. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash., 511
6. Keith Varley, 492
7. Bob Emmett, 472
8. Dane Covey, 469
9. John Witt, Edmonds, Wash., 451.5
Judges: Steve Helmick, Hube Start
PROFILE STUNT (6 entries)
1. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash., 479 (6)
2. Dan Rutherford, 474.5 (5)
3. Steve Helmick, Renton, Wash., 435.5 (4)
4. Keith Varley, 434 (3)
5. Dane Covey, 375
6. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash., 322
Judges: Mike Haverly, Pete Peterson
Photo: Steve Helmick carries Randy Powell's Ringmaster Deluxe to the circle for a Profile Stunt flight. Bruce Hunt photo.
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (8 entries)
1. Keth Varley, 468 (8)
2. Steve Helmick, 442 (7)
3. Pete Ferguson, Auburn, Wash. 439.5 (6)
4. Rick Cochrun, Marysville, Wash., 434.5 (5)
5. Hube Start, Abbottsford, B.C., 428
6. John Witt, 421.5
7. Dave Gardner, Renton, Wash., 420
8. Rex Abbott, 281
Judges: Dan Rutherford, Mike Haverly
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (7 entries)
1.Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., 555 (10.5)
2. Bruce Hunt, 535 (9)
3. Dan Rutherford, 511 (7.5)
4. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C., 509 (6)
5. John Leidle, 486.5
6. Mike Haverly, 480.5
7. Randy Powell, no score
Judges: Steve Helmick, Keith Varley
Results of this contest are included in Northwest Control-Line Competition Standings.
Another view of the pit area. Bruce Hunt photo.
Randy Powell's beautiful Ringmaster Deluxe took first place. Bruce Hunt photos.
Lee Uberbacher (left) and Johnb Leidle waiting in the pits with John's plane. Bruce Hunt photo.
Left photo: Dane Covey works on his Nobler. Right photo: Dave Gardner uses a coat to shield his laptop from the light at the scorer's table. Bruce Hunt photos.
Bob Emmett (left) and Alan Resinger with their planes. Bruce Hunt photos.
Left photo: Howard Rush tabulates scores. Right photo: Dan Rutherford (left) holds court with (from left) Mike Potter, Bob Parker and Ben Jones. Bruce Hunt photos.
Left photo: Dave Gardner, out from under the hood, with his Nakke. Bruce Hunt photo. Right photo: Hube Start's approach to mounting the Saito .40 four-stroke engine. Rex Abbott photo.
There's always a bit of down time at a stunt contest. Some of the fliers relax, with one of the convenient hotels in the background. Bruce Hunt photo.
This page was upated Aug. 24, 2011