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Stories from the Flight Line

NATS News

Coverage, results, and stories from the National Aeromodeling Championships.

Three men with medals holding model airplanes on a sunny day.

(L to R) Bill Hughes, Patrick Hemple, and Chris Montagino hold their F2A speed models

2025 Control-Line Speed Nats – Introduction

The 2025 National Aeromodeling Championships for Control Line Speed Nats will feature 14 events, starting with 1/2A on Monday and getting progressively faster throughout the week.
Jul 7, 2025
Blue remote-controlled plane on runway, grass in background.

This carrier plane landed short of the deck.

2025 Control Line Navy Carrier Nats – Introduction

The Navy Carrier event is a Control Line Nationals competition with three sections: High Speed, Low-Speed, and Landing. Contestants are timed from takeoff to landing, scored on speed and low-speed flights, and penalized for touching the ground or failing to land safely.
Jul 5, 2025
Five people holding colorful model gliders on a grassy field.

A gaggle of Sky Pigs…the classic Sailaire.

2025 AMA/LSF Soaring Nats Introduction

The 2025 AMA/LSF Soaring Nats will take place from July 16-27, featuring various glider categories including ALES, F3K, F5J and F3L events.
Jul 1, 2025
Group with model airplanes in a stadium setting.

Hope, Joshua, and Caleb Finn (right) of J & H Aerospace pose with some of the youth competitors that they mentor. All are holding gliders from J & H Aerospace. Photo credit: Mai Le

2025 Indoor Free Flight Bonus

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats took place at the ETSU dome in Johnson City, with Don Slusarczyk winning multiple categories and Brett Sanborn taking first in F1L. The event saw a large turnout and memorable moments for contestants and spectators alike.
May 30, 2025
Model airplane flying indoors near a high ceiling with lights and signs.

The author’s F1R model takes flight inside the Mini-Dome. Photo credit: Nick Ray

2025 Indoor Free Flight Final Report

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nationals concluded with Don Slusarczyk taking top honors in the Open category, Declan Rhodes winning in Sr, and Jaden Elizabeth Andraka claiming victory in Jr. The event was a success thanks to the efforts of David Lindley, David Beazley, and others who ensured its smooth operation.
May 28, 2025
Indoor track event, man writes on paper near tables with equipment and flags.

John Kagan winds his P-18 on the last day of competition. Photo credit: Nick Ray

May 26th, 2025: Indoor Free Flight

The third and final day of the 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats saw mixed opinions on the impact of outside weather conditions on air buoyancy inside the dome. A-6 was contested, with a close top three finish between Hamish Christie, Tom Sova, and Don Slusarczyk, while Brett Sanborn won F1L category.
May 27, 2025
Man adjusting a small, model propeller plane on an indoor track.

Michael Copeland prepares his Limited Pennyplane: Photo credit: Nick Ray

May 25th, 2025: Indoor Free Flight

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats competition continued on May 25th with popular events like Limited Pennyplane and P-18, where top flyers took the podium. The afternoon featured F1D competition, with Brett Sanborn taking top honors.
May 27, 2025
Two people assemble a model aircraft at a table, large rolls in the background.

 Steven Griggs and Dev Goda prepare their models for competition. Photo credit: Nick Ray

May 24th, 2025: Indoor Free Flight

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats kicked off with glider events, followed by a concert and rubber-powered events, with the author, Joshua Finn, taking top spot in several categories.
May 27, 2025
Indoor football stadium with players on the field and rows of blue and yellow seats.

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats return to the East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee.

2025 Indoor Free Flight Introduction

The 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats will take place at ETSU's Mini-Dome from May 24-26. The event features various categories, including catapult glider, F1R and F1D, hand-launched glider, pennyplane, and Ministick. The winner is determined by the model that stays in the air the longest.
May 23, 2025

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