Day 1 of LSF Cross Country and F3H Racing
By Wally Adasczik
The day started off at a new location, the Parker City Municipal Park, in Parker City, Indiana. In years past, the Cross Country crew usually used the Monroe Central school grounds, in Parker City. School starts early here in Indiana, and the school grounds were not open for public use.
Closing report by Mike Unger
Well, the final rounds of the 2021 Heli Nats went off without a hitch on Wednesday morning. Sportsman started off the day with the first flight at 8:04 a.m., followed by Advanced, Masters, and F3C. The weather was perfect, with temps cold enough in the morning for me to break out my hoodie for a couple of hours. Final flights were completed about 11:30 and we started the awards ceremony at noon.
By Mike Unger
Muncie, Indiana, gave us another awesome day of weather at the AMA Site 5 for Day 3 of the AMA Helicopter Nats.
High temps of 78°, a sunny sky, and low wind made it idea for flying. Just like the day before, we picked up again Tuesday with the first flight at 8 a.m.
By Mike Unger
Day 2 of the Heli Nats was one of the best days weather wise we have had in years at the Nats. Temps in the mid-70s, low humidity, nearly clear skies, and low wind.
We started at 8:02 a.m. with the first flight of the Sportsman class and ended about 6:15 p.m. with the fourth round of the F3C class.
Day 2 also brought in the Scale helicopters, with one round of static judging and two rounds of flights. The Scale pilots put on quite a show with some very impressive craftmanship and impressive flying.
By Mike Welshans, FAC vice president
The NFFS/AMA Indoor National Championships was held in Pontiac, Michigan, July 20– 23. The event was well attended with more than 50 contestants entered. The event was run by Bill Shailor from Royal Oak, Michigan, with Mike Welshans handling the FAC entries. FAC results by day and event follow.
Tuesday Only
FAC Simple Scale – 5 entered
1st – Jonathan Nunez - 335
2nd – George Bredehoft - 327
3rd – Glen Campbell - 224
By Mike Unger
Well, it's the beginning of August and that means it's Heli Nats time again.
With COVID turning everything upside down last year, it is nice to have a more normal Nats competition this year.
Wrap-up report by Rick Pangell
Rain, rain, go away, and stay away ...
Leaving the motel in Muncie Thursday morning, the rain was coming down hard. As we got closer to the field, the clouds were high and there was no rain. It had passed over.
By Rick Pangell
Okay, describe this day … hot and humid with some great thermals and a lot of flying. Flight after flight by the Free Flight fliers. The FAI crew had to fly rounds.
Comments were made by some FAI pilots that they were getting frustrated by the round system as it kept them from flying other AMA and NFFS events. This wasn’t a negative comment about the FAI, but more like they wished they could take advantage of the wonderful flying weather and fly more events.
By Rick Pangell
Okay … second-guess the wind and move the NFFS trailer, but as all good Free Flighters know, the wind never shifts. Ultimately, the trailer came back to home but different locations sprung up according to the best places to fly an event. The weather was hot, but absolutely gorgeous for Free Flight.
Event recap by Rob Romash
It has been a long haul, well nearly as I have a long drive home.
Thinking back, we used to do this thing nearly twice as long, not including travel. And we also had four times the competitors. Maybe there are fewer pilots, but the ones who are left, or could come, are no less talented.