Bob Welch makes a flight on his semi-scale Meteor in Advanced Precision Aerobatics at the 2021 Stunt-a-Thon. Flying Lines photo.

Stunt-a-Thon 2021

July 17-18, 2021, Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, Wash.

The 38th annual Stunt-a-Thon represented a resumption of control-line flying after a pandemic-induced hiatus of more than a year and a half. The last Northwest contest before the 2021 Stunt-a-Thon was the Portland Racing contest in November 2019.

It was great to be back!

The Northwest Skyraiders showed that they know how to put on a friendly contest, despite the shadow of that knowledge that this was most likely the last time the Auburn Municipal Airport site could be used as a contest venue. The airport management has plans for redevelopment of the control-line flying site.

Weather was exellent, warm but not too hot, with slight-to-moderate breezes. Lunch was provided on Saturday. Fourteen individual fliers participated in seven events.

The competition was directed by Kris Millard, with Howard Rush running the stunt tabulation and Mike Potter directing the Navy Carrier event. Mike Haverly, Steve Helmick, Dave Gardner and other Skyraiders pitched in to make the contest run smoothly.

Stuntathon 2021 results

(Northwest standings points in parentheses)

OLD-TIME STUNT (3 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash., Barnstormer, O.S. .25FP — 277 (3)
2. Bob Welch, Federal Way, Wash., Barnstormer, E-Flite 15— 268.5 (2)
3. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., Barnstormer, O.S. Max .25 — 258.5 (1)
Judges:  Steve Helmick, Dave Gardner

CLASSIC STUNT (3 entries)
1. Bob Welch, Barnstormer, E-Flite 15 — 532.5 (3)
2. Mike Haverly, Chizler, RoJett .40 — 507 (2)
3. John Thompson, Gypsy, O.S. .46LA — 502 (1)
Judges:  Bruce Hunt, Steve Helmick

PROFILE STUNT (6 entries)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore., Genesis2, Electric — 546.5 (6)
2. Bob Welch, Buccaneer, E-Flite 25— 536.5 (5)
3. Bruce Hunt, Lake Stevens, Wash., Cardinal, O.S. .40FP — 500 (4)
4. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash., Sakitumi, O.S. .46LA — 428.5 (3)
5. Mike Haverly, Kaizen, electric — 102.5
6. John Thompson, Scrub J, Evolution .36 — attempt
Judges:  Addis Elmore, Steve Helmick

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Jim McCartney, Lake Tapps, Wash., Oriental Plus, O.S. .46LA — 240 (1)
Judges:  Mike Haverly, Steve Helmick

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Bob Welch, RT14 Meteor, E-Flite 25 — 549.5 (3)
2. Rod Claus, Sultan Pathfinder, electric — 477(2)
Judges:  Mike Haverly, Steve Helmick

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Howard Rush, Olympia, Wash., Impact, Plettenberg 20-16 — 582 (9)
2. Tim Just, Victorville, Calif., Delroy, electric — 558.5
3.  Mike Haverly, Kaizen, electric — 526.5 (7)
4. Randy Powell, Port Orchard, Wash., Thunderstruck, electric — 510 (6)
5. John Thompson, Crossfire, E-Flite 32 — 509
6. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore., Sister Jenny, O.S. .46LA — 507
Judges:  Steve Helmick, Bruce Hunt

NORTHWEST SPORT 40 NAVY CARRIER (5 entries)
1. Jim McCartney, Yak-9 — 193.6 (5)
2. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash, OS2U Kingfisher — 191.9 (4)
3. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore., F-51 — 183.4 (3)
4. Kris Millard, Puyallup, Wash., Squarecat — 98 (2)
5. John Lickley, Redmond, Ore., MO-1 — No score

Contest Director:  Kris Millard
Carrier Event Director:  Mike Potter
Pit Boss:  Rod Claus
Tabulation:  Howard Rush

Stunt-a-Thon photo gallery

Expert Precision Aerobatics entrants (from left): John Thompson, Tim Just, Tim Wescott, Howard Rush, Mike Haverly, Randy Powell. Skyraiders photo.

Advanced PA fliers: Bob Welch (left), Rod Claus. Skyraiders photo.

Beginner Stunt flier Jim McCartney. Skyraiders photo.

Classic Stunt competitors (from left): Bob Welch, Mike Haverly, John Thompson. Skyraiders photo.

Old-Time Stunt competitors (from left): Mike Haverly, John Thompson and Bob Welch. Skyraiders photo.

Profile Stunt competitors (from left): John Thompson, Fred Underwood, Bob Welch, Bruce Hunt, Rod Claus, Mike Haverly. Skyraiders photo.

Northwest Sport 40 Carrier competitors (from left): Mike Potter, Jim McCartney, Kris Millard, Mike Hazel. Not pictured: John Lickley. Skyraiders photo.

Planes wait in the pits on Saturday. Flying Lines photo.

The weigh-in ritual: Bruce Hunt puts his Cardinal on the scale while Rod Claus (left) and Dave Gardner watch. Flying Lines photo.

A variety of airplanes in the Carrier pits. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Welch's Buccaneer makes a Profile Stunt flight. Flying Lines photo.

Fred Underwood's Genesis2 in level flight. Flying Lines photo.

Profile Stunt judges Addis Elmore (left) and Steve Helmick write down a score as Fred Underwood's plane passes. Flying Lines photo.

Light shines through the transparent covering on Rod Claus' Sakitumi during a Profile Stunt flight. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush prepares his Impact for the winning Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. Flying Lines photo.

Randy Powell at the handle of his Thunderstruck during an Expert Precision Aerobatics flight. Flying Lines photo.

Randy Powell's Thunderstruck in flight. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush at the handle while Expert Precision Aerobatics judges Steve Helmick (left) and Bruce Hunt watch, along with spectator Pete Peterson. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush's Impact up high. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Haverly flew his Kaizen in both Profile Stunt and Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Haverly's Kaizen in flight. Flying Lines photo.

Tim Just's Delroy is a mix of Phil Granderson Precision Aerobatics designs, Diva and Elroy. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Welch's electric Meteor is a semi-scale representation of a noted full-scale racer. Flying Lines photo.

The only casualty of the weekend was Jim McCartney's Yak-9 Carrier plane, which crashed when the engine quit up high. The plane was later repaired and will fly Northwest Sport 40 Carrier again. Flying Lines photo.

Results of this contest are included in the Northwest Competition Standings.

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This page was upated June 14, 2022