Paul Walker's Royal Flush makes the winning flight in Expert Precision Aerobatics on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Bill Riegel Model Air Park in Salem, Ore. the final day of the 2026 Fall Follies. Flying Lines photo.

CL fliers gather for 39th Fall Follies

Sept. 26-27, Bill Riegel Model Air Park at Salem Airport, Salem, Ore.

It was a busy two days at the Northwest's traditional season-ending multi-event contest, with a windy Saturday afternoon requiring an adjustment of the schedule. But a good turnout of control-line fliers rolled with the changes and completed all the events in good spirits.

The Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers had the Salem Airport field in good shape and provided tasty lunches on both days. Some good matches in Combat and world-class flying in Precision Aerobatics highlighted the weekend.

Saturday's weather was partly sunny but the wind increased as the day went on, resulting in the decision to move Profile Stunt to Sunday.  Further schedule juggling occurred Sunday morning, resulting in all Precision Aerobatics being flown in the morning and Profile being moved to the afternoon.  Everyone got their flights in on what turned out to be a beautiful day.

Contest sponsors the Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers organized the event. Contestants and others willingly volunteered to fill all the important jobs and the contest ran smoothly for two days.

After all the adjustments, Saturday featured Old-Time Stunt, Classic Stunt, 1/2-A Combat and 80mph Combat, Northwest Sport Race and Dallas Sport Goodyear. On Sunday it was Precision Aerobatics and Profile Stunt.

Bob Welch of Federal Way, Wash., 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. Bob wasn't present at the contest, but the trophy was sent home to Bob with another contestant.

Contest staff:

Field preparation and setup: Mike Hazel and Mark Crouse
Registration: Barbara White and Robin Gearn.
Weighing and pull-testing: Randy Ling
Tabulation: Barbara White, Robin Gearn
Combat Event Director: Gene Pape
Racing Event Director: Mike Hazel
Stunt Event Director: John Thompson
Food: Mike Hazel
General help everywhere: Mark Crouse
Contest director: John Thompson
Thanks also to many others who helped out with various chores and details!

Combat director's report

By Gene Pape

Thanks to out-of-state competitors, we had enough in Combat to have a fun contest. California was represented by Nathaniel Seavy and Patrick O’Halloran. Washington was represented by Robert Smith. I was the lone Oregonian.

The judging staff was all recruited at the last minute. Leighton Mangels from North Plains, who is a regular competitor in racing but also a Combat flyer, was the event director for 1/2-A. Alan Stewart and Russ Hester were the judges for 1/2-A along with Mark Crouse doing pull testing. It was great to have Russ Hester back at the field as he continues to recover from back surgery. When the dust settled in 1/2-A, Patrick O’Halloran was first, Robert Smith was second, and Nathaniel Seavy was third.

After a break for the contest-provided lunch, we set out to fly 80mph Speed Limit. For this event the judging staff was Niels Madsen event director, Russ Hester and Mark Crouse Judges, and Mark Crouse doing double duty as pull tester. First and second places were the same as 1/2-A, Patrick O’Halloran first, Robert Smith second, but I managed third.

Thanks to everyone who helped, including Greg Carter who wrote the Excel Spreadsheet that Patrick used to keep track of scoring. It seems I had forgotten to bring the scoreboard.

Everyone had a great time, and the California crew left saying they would do their best to bring more competitors next year.

Fall Follies Results

NW Standings points in parentheses

OLD-TIME STUNT (3 entries)
1. Stan Olzaski, Roseburg, Ore. — 283 (3)
2. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. — 256.25 (2)
3. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. — 245.75 (1)
Judges: Steve Helmick and Tim Wescott

CLASSIC STUNT (6 entries)
1. Pat Johnston, Boise, Idaho — 533.5 (6)
2. Stan Olzaski — 511 (5)
3. Randy Ling, Kent, Wash. — 491 (4)
4. Gary Weems, Alpine, Ore. — 427 (3)
5. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. — 383
6. Mike Hazel — attempt
Judges: Mark Schluter and Tim Wescott

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (0 entries)

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (6 entries)
1. Pat Johnston — 517 (6)
2. Tim Wescott — 507 (5)
3. Stan Olzaski — 506 (4)
4. John Thompson — 496.5 (3)
5. Mark Schluter — 477.5
6. Gary Weems — 470.5
Judges: Jerry Eichten and John Leidle

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Stan Olzaski — 532 (4)
2. Mark Schluter — 505 (3)
3. Randy Ling — 460 (2)
4. Gary Weems — 441.5 (1)
Judges: Steve Helmick and Tim Wescott

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash. — 596.5 (10)
2. Tim Just, Victorville, Calif. — 584 (9)
3. Howard Rush, Olympia, Wash. — 553.5 (8)
4. Pat Johnston — 543 (7)
5. John Thompson — 497
6. John Leidle — 444.5
Judges: Steve Helmick and Tim Wescott

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (3 entries, all 70-lap heats)
1. Mike Hazel (Pit: John Thompson) — 4:17.45 (3)
2. Leighton Mangels, North Plains, Ore. (Pit: Alan Stewart) — 4:22.48 (2)
3. Alan Stewart, Vancouver, Wash. (Pilot: Leighton Mangels) — 4:55 (1)

DALLAS SPORT GOODYEAR (3 entries, all 80-lap heats)
1. Alan Stewart (Pilot: Leighton Mangels) — 4:33.5 (3)
2. Leighton Mangels (Pit: Alan Stewart) — 4:56 (2)
3. Mike Hazel (Pit: John Thompson) — 6:20 (1)

1/2-A COMBAT (4 entries)
1. Patrick O'Halloran, Santa Rosa, Calif. — 4 wins, 1 loss
2. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. — 2-2 (3)
3. Nat Seavy, Forestville, Calif. — 1-2
4. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. — 0-2 (1)

80MPH COMBAT (4 entries)
1. Patrick O'Halloran — 4-1
2. Robert Smith — 2-2 (3)
3. Gene Pape  — 1-2 (2)
4. Nat Seavy — 0-2

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

Fall Follies photo gallery

Planes lined up in the pits for Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Pits on Saturday were full of Old-Time and Classic planes. Flying Lines photo.

Stan Olzaski flew his Jamison Special in Old-Time and Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Paul Walker at the handle in Expert Precison Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush's Shark Evolution flies in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush at the handle. Flying Lines photo.

Tim Just's Timpact flies in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Mark Schluter's Twister flies in Advanced Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Mark Schluter at the handle. Flying Lines photo.

Gary Weems' Vector 40 takes off for an Advanced Precision Aerobatics flight after Mark Schluter's launch. Flying Lines photo.

Patrick O'Halloran (left) and Robert Smith battle in 80mph Combat. Flying Lines photo.

Leighton Mangels flies a Dallas Sport Goodyear entry. Flying Lines photo.

John Leidle's Classic Stunt plane takes off. Flying Lines photo.

John Leidle at the handle. Flying Lines photo.

Patrick O'Halloran (left) and Gene Pape battle in 1/2-A Combat.  Flying Lines photo.

Nat Seavy launches a 1/2-A Combat plane. Flying Lines photo.

Half-A Combat winners, from left: Patrick O'Halloran, first; Robert Smith, second; Nat Seavy, third.

80-mph Combat winners, from left: Patrick O'Halloran, Robert Smith, Gene Pape.

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This page was updated Sept. 28, 2026