Control-line model aviators in several Northwest
locations put up flights on various kinds of Ringmasters
over the Oct. 3-4 weekend (and surrounding dates) as
part of the worldwide Ringmaster
Fly-A-Thon.
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.
Worldwide report:
Updated!
As of Tuesday, Oct. 6, the worldwide
tally was 1,398 flights by 129 pilots and reports still
coming in.
By John
Cralley
Northwest Ringmaster flights
In the Northwest, flights are known to have taken place
in Auburn, Wash.; Junction City, Ore.; Klamath Falls,
Ore.; Salem, Ore.; Portland, Ore.; Roseburg, Ore.; and
Richmond, B.C. At least 439 flights were made by at
least 47 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.
Data and reports will be added if more are received by
Flying Lines.
Washington state
RingMonster I (left) and Ringmonster II
(right) — .78 vs .46 — ready for action at Roegner Park!
Dave Gardner photo.
Auburn, Wash., Ringmaster flights
Oct. 3-4, Roegner Park, Auburn, Wash.
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 115 flights, on one grass circle!
Here is the schedule of names and number of flights. Some
of the Airplane/Engine data may not be totally
accurate….this IS a low-key event, but they were all
Ringmasters with variations on a theme — of some sort!
All in all, a great time was had by
everyone who attended. Saturday was clear and sunny!
(low 70°’s), with only moderate late morning wind — not
bad, just ‘bouncy.’ Sunday started much the same way,
with some fog, reasonable temps, a batch of successful
flights, then some wind, then some closure.
* These ‘multi-flights’ involved
‘controllable’ airplanes, flying 5+ laps, then shutting
back and landing, to complete rolling stop, then
throttle up and take off for another 5 laps. There was
some ‘pitwork’ in action, to allow some restarts and
re-activating electric circuitry.
Thanks to those who helped make it all
work, including Jim McCartney, Rodney Claus, Randy Ling
and Steve Holt 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 a bad back) and remote
attendance, with significant help from the many club
members on both days, a reasonable event tally and
herding the loose cats!
Jim McCartney fuels up. Dave Gardner
photo.
Steve Holt at the handle. Dave
Gardner photo.
Jim Schneider flies. Dave Gardner
photo.
Steve Ashmore's Pat Johnston-designed RM
526E. Dave Gardner photo.
Another Johnston-designed variant with a
parabolic airfoil. Dave Gardner photo.
Oregon
Eugene, Ore., area Ringmaster flights
Gene Pape's Ringmaster flies at the
Eugene Prop Spinners' summer flying field in Junction
City, Ore., on Oct. 5. Pape's Ringmaster has an
interesting history: It was built by Pat Johnston of
Boise, Idaho, and originally powered with an O.S. FP
.25; then it was owned for a time by Gerald Schamp of
Albany, Ore., who installed an O.S. 26 four-stroke; then
it was owned and flown by John Thompson in Old-Time
Stunt for several years; finally, Gene salvaged the
broken plane from a crash, installed a McCoy .35, and
has flown the plane in fly-a-thon events for several
years. This 2026 photo is of the bottom side, which has
the same graphics as the top. Flying Lines photo.
By John Thompson
Oct. 1, Eugene Equipment Auction/Can Do
Ranch, Junction City, Ore.
The Eugene
Prop Spinners flew Ringmasters on Thursday, Oct.
1.
Mike Hazel, Dave La Fever, Gene Pape, John
Thompson and Gary Weems flew, with support from Jim
Corbett and Bill Badstubner. Eighteen Ringmaster flights
were made. Flights were:
- Mike Hazel: Baby, Junior, S-1
- Dave La Fever: Super.
- Gene Pape: Baby, S-1
- John Thompson: Baby, Super
Ten Ringmasters flown by the Prop
Spinners included two Baby Ringmasters, two Super
Ringmasters, a Ringmaster Jr. and five S-1 (original)
versions. Flying Lines photo.
Gary Weems launches Mike Hazel's Baby
Ringmaster. Flying Lines photo.
Mike Hazel's S-1 in flight. Flying
Lines photo,
Portland Ringmaster flights
Just some of the Ringmasters flown
in Portland. Jess Walls photo.
By Don Curry
Oct. 1-2, Jim Walker Memorial
field, Delta Park, Portland, Ore.
The Northwest Fireballs
had our flyathon on Thursday and Friday.
Jess Walls, Jim Cameron, Niels Madson, Doug Powers,
John Knoppi, Gary Harris, Layton Mangels and Mike
Hazel all put up flights. There were eight different
Ringmasters used and 204 flights were logged. Mike
had both the smallest and largest Ringmaster.
Mike Hazel
adds:
My goal was to fly the biggest and smallest
Ringmaster, which I did.
Those guys put up a lot of flights over two days!
John Knoppi brought down the Skyraiders ("big ass")
Ringmaster, with Fox .78 power. The plane had
a 2-ounce tank so flights were pretty short. Almost
everybody took a turn on that one. It was big, but a
tad smaller than mine.
Mike Hazel's giant Ringmaster with
(look closely) his Micro Ringmaster sitting on the
tail. Mike Hazel photo.
Jim Cameroon starts a big
Ringmaster with Alan Stewart at the handle and
John Knoppi holding. Mike Hazel photo.
Two oldies were among the Portland
fleet. Jess Walls photo.
Roseburg, Ore., Ringmaster flights
Umqua Valley Modelers, Oct.
5
Alan Radar made one flight on a Baby
Ringmaster, according to the worldwide tally
page.
Salem Ore., Ringmaster flights
Bill Riegel Model Airpark,
Salem Airport, Oct. 3
The Western Oregon
Control Line Flyers club got in on the
action this year taking advantage of some
beautiful weather. There were a total of 20
flights put up; all but two of these were of
the S-1 design. The other couple of flights
were with the 576 Ringmaster design.
Participants were Jim Cameron, Jerry
Eichten, Mike Hazel, Niels Madsen, Jess
Walls and Jerry’s friend George. George made
his first control-line flight in 40 years
and really enjoyed it!
Two of Mike Hazel's
Ringmasters, an S-1 and the Pat
Johnston-designed 576. Mike Hazel photo.
Jess Wall uses an RC
transmitter to control the speed for
George's first flight in 40 years. Mike
Hazel photo.
Klamath Falls, Ore., Ringmaster flights
Steen Sports Park, Klamath
Falls, Oct. 3
Peter
Reifel and his son Robert Reifel flew an
electric-powered Junior Ringmaster.
Robert Reifel's Junior in flight.
Peter
Reifel photo.
British Columbia Ringmaster flights
Vancouver, B.C. area
Richmond, B.C, Rice Mill Road site,
Oct. 3, Clayburn Road site, Oct. 4
Paul Bedford and Henry Hajdik
prepare Paul's colorful S-1 for a flight. Chris
Cox photo.
By Chris Cox
The Vancouver Gas Model Club
hosted the Ringmaster Fly-a-Thon on Saturday at our
Rice Mill Road flying site.
The
Pacific
Aeromodellers Club hosted the Fly-a-Thon on the
Sunday at the Clayburn Road flying site.
Saturday saw 10 fliers putting up a
total o 28 flights. On Sunday, seven fliers (two of
which also flew on Saturday) put up 52 more flights.
Final tally was 15 pilots flying 80 flights. The
majority of Ringmasters flown were the S1, as well
as a couple of Super Ringmasters. Weather was
near perfect with sunny skies and light winds.
Wade (left) and Brian Forster
prepare to start Brian's S-1. Chris Cox photo.
Dennis Cousineau launches Chris Sackett's Super
Ringmaster. Chris Cox photo.
Chris Sackett and planes.
Chris
Cox photo.
Wade Forster's S-1.
Chris Cox photo.
Ava Cox (left) and Rose Cox put up Ringmaster
flights.
Chris Cox photo.
