A few of the many planes await circle time at the 2025 Lucky Hand Fun Fly. Flying Lines photo.
Northwest CL modelers try their luck in
Salem
Lucky Hand Fun Fly, Salem, Ore., July 5, 2025
Although the future of Bill Riegel Model Airpark at the Salem Airport remains in doubt, delays to the Airport's planned parking lot construction have resulted in continued availability of the two-circle flying site to control-line aviators. How long will this go on? Through the 2025 flying season, it appears at this writing.
That's why, having bid "farewell" to Bill Riegel Model Airpark at the 2023 Lucky Hand Fun Fly, the Lucky Hand was back in a big way for 2025.
The Western Oregon Control Line Flyers hosted their nearly annual poker challenge, which features a poker draw method of selecting winners, in which each participant’s flight earns a playing card that is posted face-up by their name on the board. Five cards per flier is the maximum that the dealer draws. There is a cash buy-in to participate in the poker draw, but that was not required for anybody just wanting to fly and not bet on it.
At the end of the day, Terence Bardue was the winner picking up a cool hundred and fifty bucks for his two pairs on the board. (Who says you can’t make money flying model planes?) But wait, there’s more! There was also a prize table generously filled with all kinds of modeling merchandise for everybody else. Everybody came away a winner with goods in hand.
The weather was quite pleasant though the day, and the wind only kicked up a little at times but was still manageable. There were three flying circles in use: There was the usual paved circle and grass area, plus the cul-de-sac was blocked off for bitty plane flying activity.
Stunt and Combat planes were the main order of the day, along with some 1/2-A craft and miscellaneous sport planes. (What? No throttle planes this year?)
A few spectators dropped by the field to watch the action.
Fliers participating in the poker draw were: Terence Bardue, Jerry Eichten, Gary Harris, Russ Hester, John Knoppi, John Lickley, Lynette Lickley, Niels Madsen, Leighton Mangels, Terry Mitchell, Gene Pape, Doug Powers, Mark Schluter, John Thompson and Gary Weems. Others on hand spectating were: Craig Bartlett, Mark Crouse, Don Dotter, Roy DeCamara and Bruce Tunberg. Also spectating was Tom Schafer from New Jersey, who was visiting in the area and decided to check out the action. (Good choice, Tom!) Apologies if any names are missing.
Lucky Hand Fun Fly photos
Some of the models shown below and their owners are unidentifed. Email the Flying Lines editor if you can fill in the details.
Roy DeCamara of Vancouver, Wash., displayed these two brand-new Flying Clowns, both powered by vintage O&R .23 engines. Flying Lines photo.
Roy also displayed this exquisite Flying Clown, with McCoy .35 power. Flying Lines photo.
Terrance Bardue of Portland, Ore., flies his Skyray. Terrance won the $150 cash pot for the best poker hand. Flying Lines photo.
Gary Weems of Alpine, Ore., flies his Cardinal. Flying Lines photo.
Mark Schluter of Umpqua, Ore., flies a Tutor,once owned by the late Mike Denlis, longtime Eugene Prop Spinners president. Flying Lines photo.
Lynnette and John Lickley of Redmond, Ore., both flew. Flying Lines photo.
Portland racer Leighton Mangels (left) and Doug Powers rest between flights. Flying Lines photo.
Gene Pape's fleet included three vintage Combat planes and, at the back, a modern AMA Fast Combat plane. Flying Lines photo.
Another of Gene's planes was this Dogfighter, covered in the Sunday comics. Gene is from Eugene, Ore. Flying Lines photo.
Russ Hester of Florence, Ore., lands a Combat plane on the grass circle. Flying Lines photo.
Master builder and retired Stunt flier Roy DeCamara watches the action. Flying Lines photo.
One of the more unusual planes was this profile Team Racer, with OS diesel power, by Bruce Tunberg of McMinnville, Ore. Flying Lines photo.
Terrance Bardue's pile of Combat-style planes. Flying Lines photo.
Leighton Mangels' Flying Clown. Flying Lines photo.
John Thompson's fleet included large and
small. Flying Lines photo.
John Lickley's Johnny Boy. Flying
Lines photo.
This plane was flown by Lynette Lickley. Flying Lines photo.
Jerry Eichten of Newberg, Ore., converted
this P-40 from glow to electric and passed it along to
Gary Weems, who enjoyed his first electric flight
experience. Flying Lines photo.
A tiny Tee-Dee-powered Magician. Flying Lines photo.
Gary Weems' Flite Streak. Flying
Lines photo.
Terrance Bardue's Skyray. Flying Lines
photo.
A Cosmic Wind. Flying Lines photo.
Leighton Mangels' profile stunter. Flying
Lines photo.
The prize table. Flying Lines photo.
The scoreboard. Flying Lines photo.
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was updated July 8, 2025