Gary Weems makes a flight in Sportsman Profile Stunt on a perfect day for control-line flying on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bill Riegel Model Air Park in Salem, Ore. the first day of the 2025 Fall Follies. Randy Ling photo.

Fall Follies returns to sunny Salem in 2025

Sept. 27-28, Bill Riegel Model Air Park at Salem Airport, Salem, Ore.

Although the future of the Salem flying site remains uncertain as construction of an airport parking lot remains a possibility, the project's repeated delays allowed for the successful return of the Fall Follies to the flying circles at the Salem Airport.

Saturday's weather for the 38th Follies was almost perfect, with light breezes and mild temperatures as an enthusiastic group of Northwest fliers participated in Stunt, Combat and Racing events. Sunday was mild again but wind became a challenge that all of the Precision Aerobatics fliers were able to overcome.

Entry levels were increased from 2024 in all of the Saturday Stunt events, but below the usual for the Sunday Precision Aerobatics classes. Combat was poorly attended. Racing entry was higher than last year but Northwest Super Sport Race was canceled by agreement of the contestants after a long day of flying.

Contest sponsors the Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers organized the event that included Mike Hazel's famous Zoot Barbecue on Saturday and a pizza feed on Sunday. Contestants and others willingly volunteered to fill all the important jobs and the contest ran smoothly for two days.

Saturday featured Old-Time Stunt, Classic Stunt, Profile Stunt, 1/2-A Combat and 80mph Combat, Northwest Sport Race and Northwest Super Sport Race. On Sunday the competition focused on Precision Aerobatics.

At the conclusion of Saturday's events, Jerry Eichten of Newberg, Ore. was awarded the Don McClave Vintage Stunt Trophy for the best season-long performance in combined Old-Time Stunt and Classic Stunt. The trophy, originated by the late Don McClave, is sponsored annually by Flying Lines. See the Northwest Standings page for complete Vintage Stunt Trophy standings.

Contest staff:

Field preparation and setup: Mike Hazel and Mark Crouse
Registration: Barbara White and John Thompson
Weighing and pull-testing: Randy Ling, Steve Ashmore, Robin Gearn, Rod Claus
Tabulation: Barbara White, Robin Gearn
Scoresheet runner: Doug Powers
Combat Event Director: Gene Pape
Racing Event Director: Mike Hazel
Stunt Event Director: John Thompson
Saturday barbecue: Mike Hazel
Sunday Pizza: Mike Hazel and Terrance Bardue
Contest director: John Thompson

Thanks also to many others who helped out with various chores and details!

Fall Follies Results

NW Standings points in parentheses

OLD-TIME STUNT (4 entries)
1. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. — 284.5 (4)
2. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. — 275.75 (3)
3. Jess Walls, Gresham, Ore. — 246.5 (2)
4. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. — 38 (1)
Judges: Mark Schluter and John Thompson

CLASSIC STUNT (7 entries)
1. Gary Weems, Alpine, Ore. — 498.5 (7)
2. Jerry Eichten — 496 (6)
3. Randy Ling, Kent, Wash. — 486 (5)
4. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. — 475.5 (4)
5. Mark Schluter, Umpqua, Ore. — 472.5
6. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash. — 466
7. Jess Walls — 451
Judges: Steve Helmick and Tim Wescott

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (5 entries)
1. Randy Ling — 496 (5)
2. Mark Schluter — 490 (4)
3. Mike Hazel — 474 (3)
4. Gary Weems — 455.5 (2)
5. Jess Walls — 454
Judges: Jerry Eichten and John Thompson

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Jerry Eichten — 547 (8)
2. Tim Wescott — 538 (7)
3. John Thompson — 521 (6)
Judges: Steve Helmick and Mark Schluter

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Mark Schluter — 492 (3)
2. Gary Weems — 443 (2)
3. Mike Hazel — 396 (1)
Judges: Jerry Eichten and Steve Helmick

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Tim Just, Victorville, Calif. — 574
2. Tim Wescott — 4785 (5)
3. John Thompson — 466 (4)
Judges: Jerry Eichten and Steve Helmick

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (4 entries, all 140-lap features)
1. Mike Hazel (Pit: John Thompson ) — 8:43 (4)
2. Leighton Mangels, North Plains, Ore. (Pit: Doug Powers) — 9:32 (3)
3. Doug Powers, Portland, Ore. (Pilot: Leighton Mangels) — 11:18 (2)
4. Mark Schluter (Pilot: Mike Hazel) — 12:30 (1)

NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE (3 entries, canceled)

1/2-A COMBAT (1 entry)
1. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. (1)

80MPH COMBAT (3 entries)
1. Terrance Bardue, La Center, Wash. (3)
2. Niels Madsen, Portland, Ore. (2)
3. Gene Pape (1)

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

Fall Follies photo gallery

Jerry Eichten's Gypsy makes a flight in Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Jerry Eichten at the handle of the Gypsy. Jerry was awarded the coveted Don McClave Vintage Stunt Champion trophy with his performance in combined Old-Time and Classic Stunt for the 2025 season. Flying Lines photo.


Saturday Stunt pits. Flying Lines photo.

Jess Walls flies his Nobler in Classic Stunt. Randy Ling photo.

Close-up of the Nobler shows how the cell phone camera distorts the shape of the spinning prop. Randy Ling photo.

Gary Weems has his engine running for a Profile Stunt flight, as Mike Hazel holds. Randy Ling photo.

Start of a Classic Stunt flight. Judges Tim Wescott (left) and Steve Helmick watch as John Thompson tunes the engine on his Gypsy while Mark Schluter holds. Randy Ling photo.

Mark Schluter shows good launch form as the Gypsy rolls away. Randy Ling photo.

Fall colors emerging in the background as the Gypsy is captured head-on. Randy Ling photo.

Leighton Mangels waits to launch Jess Walls' Nobler. Randy Ling photo.

John Thompson flies his Scrub J in Profile Stunt. Randy Ling photo.

Jerry Eichten flies his Python in Profile Stunt. Randy Ling photo.

Northwest Sport Race action: Leighton Mangels (left) and Mike Hazel are the pilots. Randy Ling photo.

Doug Powers launches a Northwest Sport Race plane. Randy Ling photo.

The Nitroholics Racing Team: Pilot Mike Hazel watches as pitman John Thompson warms up he engine of Mike's Northwest Sport Race plane. Randy Ling photo.

Leighton Mangels is ready for takeoff in Northwest Sport Race as Mike Hazel's plane passes overhead. Randy Ling photo.

Gary Weems flew this Flite Streak to first place in Classic Stunt. Randy Ling photo.


Tim Wescott's Sister Jenny, flown in Expert Profile Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Mark Schluter's fleet. Flying Lines photo.


Tim Wescott's Imitation was a hurry-up project but flew very well in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.


Tim Just of Victorville, Calif., made the longest drive to the Follies — 15 hours — and flew this Impact to first place in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Flying Lines home page

Back to Aerobatics section

Back to Racing section

Back to Western Oregon Control Line Flyers page

This page was updated Oct. 27, 2025