Bob Welch of Federal Way, Wash., flies his Oriental in Classic Stunt at the 2023 Fall Follies at Jim Walker Memorial Field in Delta Park in Portland, Ore.  Welch was awarded the annual Don McClave Vintage Stunt Trophy for combined season-long performance in Old-Time Stunt and Classic Stunt Flying Lines photo.

Sun shines on Fall Follies' move to Portland

At new venue, the annual autumn gathering stays true to the spirit

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Jim Walker Memorial CL Field, Portland, Ore.

Impending loss of Bill Riegel Model Air Park in Salem resulted in the move of the 36th annual Fall Follies to Portland, with nary a glitch or a hitch in the long-running contest.  It was the usual relaxed, friendly competition in crisp and sunny fall air.  The Northwest Fireballs joined with the traditional sponsor, the Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers, to host the contest.  Fireballs set up the field, provided food and support staff as WOLF administered the competition.

The fun began on Saturday with Old-Time Stunt, Classic Stunt, Profile Stunt and Round-Robin 80mph Combat.  Profile Stunt was cut short as winds picked up to an uncomfortable 15mph.  A crash toward the end of the first round touched off a series of "pass" decisions by the fliers, so the contest ended there.  Racing was postponed until Sunday; with a low entry, it involved only one heat run after the conclusion of Precision Aerobatics, the day's main event.

The Fireballs brought pizza for lunch on Saturday and cooked up a nice barbecue on Sunday that evoked memories of Salem's traditional Salem Zoot Barbecue.

At Sunday's trophy celebration, 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 McClave, is sponsored annually by Flying Lines. See the Northwest Standings page for complete Vintage Stunt Trophy standings.

In a small contest like the follies, it takes everyone on hand to help out and make the days run smoothly, and everyone there pitched in mightily to make the Follies a success.

Contest staff:
Park permit application, liason with parks department and field setup: Northwest Fireballs, including Jim Cameron, Doug Powers, Barbara White, Niels Madsen, Don Curry and probably others whose names were not recorded.  (Email the editor if you know someone who should be added to the list).
Registration: Barbara White and John Thompson
Weighing and pull-testing: Mike Denlis
Tabulation: Barbara White and Robin Gearn
Combat Event Director: Gene Pape
Combat circle marshal: Jim Cameron
Combat setup: Gary Harris and Terrance Bardue
Racing Event Director: Mike Hazel
Stunt Event Director: John Thompson
Saturday Pizza, Sunday barbecue: Doug Powers and Robert Ladd
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

80MPH COMBAT (4 entries) (Round robin format)
1. Russ Hester, Florence, Ore. — 3-0 (4)
2. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. — 2-1 (3)
3. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. — 1-2 (2)
4. Gary Harris, Banks, Ore. — 0-3 (1)

Gary Harris (left) and Gene Pape duel in an 80mph Combat match.
Flying Lines photo

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (3 entries, only two flew) (Heat only)
1. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. — 4:29 (2)
2. Niels Madsen, Portland, Ore. — DQ (overrun) (1)

NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE (1 entry, no race)

OLD-TIME STUNT (5 entries)
1. Bob Welch, Federal Way, Wash. — 286 (5)
2. Dave Royer, Portland, Ore.  — 271 (4)
3. Mike Hazel —268.5 (3)
4. Jim Cameron, Portland, Ore. — 206.5 (2)
5. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. — 134.
Judges: John Leidle and John Thompson

CLASSIC STUNT (4 entries)
1. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. — 473 (4)
2. Randy Ling, Kent, Wash. — 457 (3)
3. Bob Welch — 444 (2)
4. Mike Hazel — 351.5 (1)
Judges: Dave Royer and Tim Wescott

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Randy Ling — 466.5 (3)
2. Mike Hazel — 408 (2)
3. Gary Weems, Monroe, Ore. — Pass (wind)
Judges: John Leidle and Tim Wescott

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (5 entries) (Second round canceled because of wind)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore. — 515.5 (5)
2. Bob Welch — 485.5 (4)
3. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. — 478.5 (3)
4. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash. — 301 (2)
5. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. — Pass (wind)
Judges: John Leidle and Tim Wescott

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Gary Weems — 415.5 (1)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Bob Welch

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Randy Ling — 478 (5)
2. Jim Cameron — 460.5 (4)
3. Mike Hazel — 428.5 (3)
4. Rod Claus — 91 (2)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Bob Welch

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Howard Rush, Olympia, Wash. — 568 (11)
2. Fred Underwood — 538.5 (10)
3. Bob Welch — 517 (9)
4. John Leidle — 505 (8)
5. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. — 500
6. John Thompson — 485
Judges: Dave Royer and Tim Wescott

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

Fall Follies photo gallery

Old-Time and Classic planes lined up in the Delta Park pits on Saturday. Flying Lines photo.

Gary Weems' Vector 40 takes off for Gary's first-ever competition flight, in Intermediate Precision Aerobatics; Niels Madsen launches. Flying Lines photo.

Weems' Vector 40 in flight. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Welch flies his Aerowin II in Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Jim Cameron concentrates on a landing in Advanced Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Jim Cameron flew this Rebel, designed by the late Leo Mehl and built by Don Curry. Flying Lines photo.

The Precision Aerobatics pits on Sunday. Flying Lines photo.

Jerry Eichten flies his Python in Expert Profile Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

80mph Combat planes make a close pass.  Top plane is Gene Pape, bottom is Gary Harris. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Welch's Oriental in a Classic Stunt flight. Flying Lines photo.

Winner Russ Hester (left) battles Gene Pape in 80 mph Combat.  Flying Lines photo.

Wind caused the crash of Rod Claus's Profile Stunt plane (built by Mike Haverly).  That caused everyone else to drop out of the competition. Flying Lines photo.

Robert Smith is ready to start the engine on his 80mph Combat plane as Russ Hester is ready to hold; in the background, Jim Cameron pull-tests Gary Harris' plane.  Steve Lindstedt photo.


Mike Hazel entered all the Stunt events.  He flew this Ringmaster in Old-Time Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Howard Rush's Impact, Expert Precision Aerobatics winner.  Howard left the Follies on his way to the U.S. World Championship Team Trials. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Haverly's Fait Accompli. Flying Lines photo.

Left: Rod Claus' SV-11. Right: A Sultan built by Pete Peterson. Flying Lines photo.

 

Left: Mike Hazel's Ringmaster 576 Right: John Thompson's Crossfire. Flying Lines photos.

 

Left: John Leidle's Precision Aerobatics plane. Right: Fred Underwood's Genesis2. Flying Lines photos.

Left: Gary Weems' Cardinal. Right: Mike Hazel's Oriental. Flying Lines photos.

 

Two planes built by Mike Haverly and brought to the contest by others: At left, an electric Profile Stunt plane; at right, the Classic Stunt Chizler. Flying Lines photos.

 

Randy Ling's twin-electric Profile Stunt plane. Flying Lines photo.


Bob Welch's Old-Time Stunt plane. Flying Lines photo.

 

Three Firecats flew in Old-Time Stunt; here are two: On the left, Jim Cameron's (Flying Lines photo) and on the right, Dave Royer's (Steve Lindstedt photo.)

 

80mph Combat planes: On the left, Gary Harris's planes; on the right, Russ Hester's. Steve Lindstedt photos.


Bob Welch's Aerowin II in flight. Flying Lines photo.

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This page was updated Oct. 3, 2022