Hey, the gangs all here!
By Matt Neumann
Today, Sunday, August 4, I open the 2024 history book to the first page. As a new dawn breaks and the sun starts to illuminate the words on the page, I find that it is the start of the Beginner and Intermediate events at the 2024 AMA Control Line (CL) Precision Aerobatics Nats.
As the sun came up, the weather was warm with clear skies and light winds. The Beginner and Intermediate events are designed for pilots who are just starting out and whose skills are, shall we say, not as polished as the so-called pros. The Beginner event pattern is different than the Intermediate, Advanced, and Open pattern. In the Beginner event, going inverted is optional, and a few other more complicated maneuvers, such as a square eight, are omitted. The Intermediate class, however, does use the entire normal AMA pattern just like the Advanced and Open classes that will be flying later on in the week.
These events are designed so that the “newbies” can experience a taste of flying at the AMA Nats by competing with other pilots of similar skill. They do not have to worry about being a “bottom feeder,” as if they were competing with some of the top fliers. This does not mean that the pros purposely intimidate the beginners. Quite the contrary. One of the things that is a favorite of the Beginner pilots is that the pros tend to come and help out with the Beginner/Intermediate events. They not only help run the contest, but they help the contestants with their equipment and flying by giving helpful advice.
![:] Scoresheets for the Beginner class.](/files/12neumann4_resized.png)
I will make a note encouraging you to look at the Intermediate scoreboard picture, where it notes the many volunteers, including top fliers, that are coaching the beginners. Many contestants come away with a feeling of belonging and becoming part of the family that I mentioned previously. The prizes are also quite good. Many vendors donate equipment and such to be given away as prizes, so that way, the beginners can improve their equipment, helping them improve to the next level.
The event was held down in the grass circles. This is usually preferable since “accidents” are a bit more common with these skill classes, and the grass is much more forgiving when it comes to, shall we say, hard landings. The pilot meeting was held at 8:30 a.m., with flying beginning at 9:00 a.m. Any questions that the pilots had were answered during the meeting.
In the end, Brendan Eberenz took first place in Beginner Open, and Tyler Skukalek took first place in Junior Beginner. In Intermediate, Angstrom Eberenz took first place. One of prizes that the Intermediate winner gets is a prepaid entry fee to go into the Advanced class, which will be held in the next couple of days. Prizes were then awarded, with the kids getting first pick. The smiles on their faces were all of the thanks that the workers needed. All were grinning from ear to ear, and the workers knew that the kids would be talking about this experience for a very long time. It makes running this type of event very worthwhile.
![:] Angstrom Eberenz receives his National Champion award from Mark Weiss.](/files/13neumann4_resized.png)
While attendance is typically low, this is an important event because it is how we grow the hobby. Without beginners coming in, the hobby will dwindle and die out.
After the events of today, the grass circles were opened for practice for whoever wanted to put in a few practice flights, including yours truly.
Now that the sun is setting, the words for today, August 4, have been written on the first page of the 2024 AMA Nats history book. We close the book only to await opening it again tomorrow when the sun will again rise, illuminating the words on the page that will let us know what happened in the OTS, Classic, and Nostalgia 30 events, along with the appearance point judging in the afternoon.
Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. Time for some sleep. That rooster will be ready.
Note from AMA: Do you have photos from the Nats that you’d like to share? If so, email them to Clarissa Poston at clarissap@modelaircraft.org. Please include a brief description in your email, naming any individuals pictured in the photo(s), the name of the event that the photo(s) were taken during, and the name of the individual who took the photo(s). Your submission(s) might be posted on AMA’s Flickr page, which can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums!