A gaggle of Sky Pigs…the classic Sailaire.
By Mike Bergerson
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)/League of Silent Flight (LSF) Soaring Nats are here again!
“Glider Camp 2025” starts Wednesday, July 16th through Friday, July 18th with the Cross Country event at Monroe Central High School in Parker City, Indiana, just a few miles from AMA headquarters. It's a hoot, it's a blast, it’s a great time flying with Wally, Ed, and friends to obtain those elusive LSF level 1K, 2K, or 10K distance requirements! Winch or electric, the “Country Cadillac” will be on-scene for some great soaring adventures across the Indiana countryside.
Wayne Norrie launching his Sailaire for RES/Quadfecta at the 2024 AMA Soaring Nats
Saturday and Sunday (July 19th and 20th) opens up at the AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, with Altitude Limited Electric Soaring (ALES) at Site #5 and F3K (hand-launch) at Site #4. Pick one and come do it up!
ALES is for anyone with a motor glider equipped with an altitude limiter. AMA rules and a fun laid back atmosphere make this a great venue for your 1st or 1,000th competition.
F3K is an FAI-rules event. If you’re into chucking it, you definitely have to come fly and learn with the best Discus Launch Glider (DLG) guys in the country.
Monday and Tuesday (July 21st through July 22nd) will bring two days of F5J. FAI rules with the exception of “restart allowed.” This competition is a lesson in thermalling and strategy. If you haven't tried this yet, you've got to come play! You will definitely have an epiphany! You know, that sudden and striking realization often leading to a new understanding of something previously unclear. LOL!
Wednesday and Thursday (July 23rd and 24th) are set aside for F3L (aka F3RES). What is F3L? OMG, this has to be the most fun team event ever devised! Simple wooden 2-meter (2M) RES (Rudder, Elevator, Spoiler) sailplanes are launched en masse with identical highstarts. Pilots seek a maximum 6-minute flight and precision landing within a 9-minute window. This favors the ability to do multiple launches for a best time and landing. What’s the catch? Only your last flight counts.
The pilots are not the only ones having fun! The scramble to get pilots relaunched is an absolute show! As long as it's a 2M RES model with a wooden wing (carbon fiber spars are okay) and wooden fuselage (a fiberglass tail boom is okay), bring it and fling it!
F5J launch 2024 AMA Soaring Nats
Okay folks, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 25th through the 27th), the last 3 days of Glider Camp, are reserved for the winches. The pure classic sailplane events are spread out to allow the “Quadfecta” to shoot Unlimited, 2M, RES, and Nostalgia-class sailplanes into the wild blue skies over Muncie. For me and lots of folks, it starts with cruises down the road in the “Country Cadillac” and ends with the way sailplanes were meant to be launched. “Winchies” come play!
For those in need of bling for their ‘I love me” wall, there will be trophies and awards for all the events that qualify. This is the chance for all of last year’s “I’ll do it next year.” folks. Don’t miss out, go register now!
Glider Camp is the best! BLUE SKIES.
A windy landing at the 2024 AMA Soaring Nats