Control-line model aviators in several Northwest locations put up flights on various kinds of Ringmasters over the Oct. 7-8 weekend (and surrounding dates) as part of the worldwide Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon sponsored by the Brotherhood of the Ring.

The Brotherhood's John Cralley gathers flight data from around the world and compiles a spreadsheet showing what variants of Ringmasters were flown at the many locations where the flying took place. Latest flight data is available on the fly-a-thon website.

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Worldwide report:

As of Nov. 2, 2023, the reported worldwide flight total was 7,603 flights by 618 pilots.

See final worldwide tally

By John Cralley

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Northwest Ringmaster flights

In the Northwest, flights are known to have taken place in Auburn, Wash.; Eagle Point, Ore.; Junction City, Ore.; Adair Village, Ore.; Portland, Ore.; Roseburg, Ore.; and Richmond, B.C.; and Parksville, B.C. At least 413 flights were made by at least 58 pilots at Northwest venues.

The reports below are from the various organizations and individuals who participated; some of the data is taken from the worldwide report.

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Washington state

Jim McCartney (left) and Rod Claus fly two Ringmasters at a time at Auburn Municipal Airport, which is becoming a Skyraiders tradition. Dave Gardner photo.

Auburn, Wash., Ringmaster flights

Oct. 7-8, Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, Wash.

By Dave Gardner

We combined the results of both days, for our totals this year.  Overall it was not a bad turnout with 11 guys flying 13 planes for a total of 84 flights, on two circles!  Well, some guys ran some practice flights with Carrier planes on another circle, but they weren’t Ringmasters!
Here is the schedule of names and number of flights.

Some of the Airplane/Engine data was not necessarily recorded….this IS a low-key event, but they were all Ringmasters of some sort!

Pilots	No. of Flights	Airplane /Engine	Airplane / Engine
Rodney Claus	11	S-1 / Fox 35
Fred Gordon	4	S-1 / OS 25
Jim McCartney	8	S-1 / Johnson 29
Steve Ashmore	20	PJ RM 576/ Electric	Baby RM
Steve Holt	13	S-1 / OS 25FP	RM Flash / Fox 15
John Knoppi	9	S-1 / Fox 35
Mike Haverly	3	RingRat 250 /electric
Kris Millard	10	S-1 / Throttled OS25
KC Johansen	1	S-1 / Fox 35
Austin Johansen	4	S-1 / Fox 35
Mike Potter	1	Ring-O-Gyro
TOTALS:      11 Pilots	84	11 planes	2 planes

All in all, a great time was had by everyone who attended.  Saturday was clear and VERY sunny! (too damn bright!), but made up for it with some late morning wind — not bad, just ‘bouncy.’  Sunday started much the same way, with a batch of successful flights, then some wind, then some closure.

Saturday also featured short episode with our "Dancing with the Stars," with Rod Claus and Jim McCartney flying some interesting "two-up" flights.  There was some good communication between the pilots —as cleanly choreographed as last year —(no crashes!) — all in all, a good show, with good flying and pitting!

Thanks to those who helped make it all work, including Jim McCartney, Rodney Claus, Randy Ling and Steve Holt (for helping fix the rolling gate!) — and all the others (whose names I didn’t write down — or remember!) gathered to enjoy the camaraderie that this event brings together.

It was my pleasure to be the ‘fast and loose’ event organizer, with, perhaps, a reasonable event tally and herding the loose cats!

At right, a RingMonster, 15% of scale, built by the late Bill Sodon, and at left a standard S-1 Ringmaster. Dave Gardner photo.

Mike Haverly's Stevens Aero RingRat 250, electric. Dave Gardner photo.

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Chehalis, Wash., Ringmaster flights

By Jeff Christenson

Oct. 7-8, Faro Field, Chehalis, Wash.

At Faro we have an event within the event with our members vying to get into the 1,000-lap club each year. Members who accomplish the goal get a T-shirt and bragging right for making it in.

Our club flew both Saturday and Sunday with a total of seven pilots in two flying circles flying 157 flights. This is without a doubt our favorite event each year as everyone just relaxes and has fun. Sadly everyone just plain forgot to take a group photo this year.

Pilots were:
 
Jeff Christenson, Skyward Hobbies S-1 Ringmaster tribute with McCoy .29, 27 flights, 1,105 laps
Tina Christenson, Skyward Hobbies S-1 Ringmaster tribute with OS FP .25, 25 flights, 1,023 laps
John Milton, Skyward Hobbies S-1 Ringmaster tribute with ASP .25, 39  flights, 1,580 laps
Doug Oertli, Ringmaster Super Flash with OS FP .25, 26 flights, 1,070 laps
Chuck Rudorpher Skyward Hobbies S-1 Ringmaster tribute with OS FP .25, 20 flights, 839 laps
Mic Hart, RingMaster S-1 with McCoy .35, 18 flights, 757 laps
Gene Lafond, Skyward Hobbies S-1 Ringmaster tribute with OS FP .25, 2 flights, 33 laps

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Oregon

Eugene, Ore., area Ringmaster flights

Gene Pape starts the McCoy .35 on his Pat Johnston-built Ringmaster, as Dave La Fever holds. Flying Lines photo.

By John Thompson

Oct. 5, Can Do Ranch, Junction City, Ore.

The Eugene Prop Spinners worked Ringmaster flights into their weekly flying session. Dave La Fever, Gene Pape, Gary Weems and John Thompson flew, with support from Jim Corbett  Flights were:

• Dave La Fever: Junior (2 flights), Super (2), S-1 (1)
  
• Gene Pape: S-1 (2), Baby (1).
  
• John Thompson, Super (2), Baby (1).
  
• Gary Weems, S-1 (2)

John Thompson's Super Ringmaster (left) powered by a Brodak .25, and Baby Ringmaster powered by an AME .08cc. Flying Lines photo.

Three of Dave La Fever's Ringmasters (from left) slightly damaged Junior, S-1 and Super. Flying Lines photo.

Gary Weems' ARF S-1, powered by K&B .28. Flying Lines photo.

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Adair Village Ringmaster flights

Oct. 8, Benton County RC Club's Brian Unwin Field, Adair Village, Ore.