The 2026 RF Stevenson Memorial Raider Roundup started on July 28, 2026 ,thanks to Jim McCartney, Mike Potter, and Trent Smith. Trent is the Pierce County Airport Manager. The Airport runway is being removed and replaced. This presented an opportunity for a control-line contest to be held on the airport ramp. Mike and Jim asked Trent Smith permission to hold a contest on the ramp and Tim said yes.

The race was on to get the sanction in place and the flyer published. Mike Hazel quickly approved the sanction request, John Thompson published at least six versions of the flyer on Flying Lines, and  Colleen Pierce created the sanction. We were in business. The Northwest Skyraiders worked to make this contest happen.  Special thanks to Rodney Claus, David Skau, Steve and  Mike Dukes.
 
Saturday started with rain but there were clearings that allowed us to fly. During the rain Howard Rush worked through raindrops and bright sun to create the score sheets.  Carrier, Profile and Classic were flown on Saturday. After a full day a flying many of us traveled to Jim McCartney’s hanger for a chicken and hamburger dinner. All had a good time
 
Sunday greeted us with wind and sunshine. Carrier and Precision stunt were flown.
 
Many thanks to Mike Haverly, Steve Helmick, Jim Johnson, Robin Gearn, Tim Wescott and Bob Welch for judging, Rodney Claus, Steve Ashmore, Jim McCartney, David Skau, Tom Sadler and Mike Dukes for setting up the circles before, during and after the rain/wind, Kris Millard and Mike Potter for running the carrier circle.
 
After all of the flying Mike Haverly and Mark Schluter were tied for the winner of the RF Stevenson Memorial Crock Pot Award. They split the spoils and we concluded the contest.

Carrier at the Roundup

By Kris Millard, event director

While we all had fun, to say our performance was disapointing would be an understatement. We had probably the lowest combined scores in the history of Navy Carrier.

We had six pilots fly 25 flights in six classes with only two, yes two, complete flights.

Saturday began with a torrential downpour beginning at our start time and continuing for nearly an hour. Then brooms and blowers were used to clear the standing water off the deck and flights began.

And the troubles began ...

Engine-outs became the most common occurrance, combined with dragging various parts of our planes on the ground and deck. It didn't help that we had a strong tailwind on landing most of the contest.

Five different flights ended when the pilot called "next lap" for slow flight — engine-out  within 3 seconds of calling it. It started to feel cursed just to call it.

Sunday the weather was better as long as you don't count the wind changing 270 degrees throughout the day. We even had a dust devil come through which flipped several planes and blew several tent awnings out toward the airport runway with people hanging onto them for dear life.

All in all we had a lot of fun while grumbling about our woes. Along with our usual crew we had the pleasure of Mark Schluter coming up from Southern Oregon to fly with us. Great guy and always a pleasure to fly with.

Also a special thanks to Mike Potter and Mike Dukes for working the scoring and timing duties. Mr. Dukes would have been a pilot, but for a Pickle Ball injury. Dangerous sport if you ask me. Safer to just fly carrier.

But we will all be back to try again — wouldn't have it any other way.

---

Raider Roundup photo gallery

Bob Welch at the handle. Randy Ling photo.

From left: Chris Cox, Mike Haverly and Randy Powell in the Stunt pits. Randy Ling photo.

Howard Rush's new Shark Evolution for Precision Aerobatics. Randy Ling photo.

Howard Rush makes a flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Randy Ling photo.

Jim McCartney at the handle. Randy Ling photo.

 
Mark Schluter's Navy Carrier plane makes a slow pass. Randy Ling photo.

Judge Steve Helmick watches as Randy Powell launches one of the Stunt entries. Randy Ling photo.

Rod Claus flies his Caprice in Classic Stunt. Randy Ling photo.

 
Steve Ashmore launches a Carrier plane as timer Mike Dukes watches. Randy Ling photo.

Steve Ashmore makes a Navy Carrier flight with his electric Bearcat. Randy Ling photo.

 
Steve Helmick and Jim Johnson judge a flight. Randy Ling photo.

In the Carrier pits (from left): Tim Just, Steve Ashmore, Kris Millard. Randy Ling photo.

Tim Wescott (left) and Steve Helmick judge an Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. Randy Ling photo.

Tim Just flies in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Randy Ling photo.

A closer look at Tim Just's Timpact. Randy Ling photo.

Rod Claus' Vortex. Randy Ling photo.

Rod Claus' Red Wings. Randy Ling photo.

Randy Powell's Slider for Expert Precision Aerobatics. Randy Ling photo.

Mike Haverly,s Kaizen, flown in Profile Stunt. Randy Ling photo.

Kris Millard's MO-1 for Navy Carrier. Randy Ling photo.