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Stories from the Flight Line

NATS News

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

Man inspecting a red model airplane under a shelter.

Ben Andrus assembling his ¼-scale Fairchild 24

July 10, 2025: RC Scale

It’s Thursday at Site 4 and the 2025 RC Scale Nationals event is getting underway. It’s a beautiful day with bright skies and very little wind. Many pilots are already here. The camper hook-ups are nearly full.
Jul 14, 2025
Yellow model airplane on a table in a grassy area.

 Peter Bauer's 2024 World Champion model.

July 10, 2025: Control Line Scale

The F4B Control Line Scale World Championships happens every even year, and the team trials happen the year before the World Championships happen.
Jul 14, 2025
Vintage biplane with blue wheels on grassy field.

Keith Numbers Designer Scale Royal Aircraft FE-8.

2025 RC Scale Nats - Introduction

The RC Scale Nats is scheduled for Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13 this year.
Jul 14, 2025
Boy kneeling, preparing a yellow model airplane on a raised track.

Welsey Smith launching brother, Conner Smith's, Skyray 35 Carrier plane.

July 10, 2025: Control Line Navy Carrier

Thursday was Unofficial Navy Carrier Events day. It was also the last day of Navy Carrier flying at the 2025 AMA Nationals.
Jul 11, 2025
Two men kneeling, assembling a small model airplane on pavement.

Jeff Gitchel puts the electric starter to the spinner on James Van Sant’s B Speed plane. 

July 10, 2025: Control Line Speed

We flew A Speed, B Speed, and Sport Jet Speed. Yes, that was us making all that noise over on Site 2. A Speed is flown using a .15 cubic inch motor. B Speed is flown using up to a .29 cubic inch motor. There were a total of five entries in Sport Jet. We had five entries in B Speed and four entries in A Speed.
Jul 11, 2025
Two people in red shirts holding model planes on grass under a blue sky.

July 10, 2025: Control Line Combat

Today’s event was AMA Speed Limit Combat. Twenty-five contestants flew a highly  competitive event with a twist of a limited speed. Sounds easy, right?  Well, detuning a combat plane to not exceed 75mph is tougher than one might think.
Jul 11, 2025
Group of four men outdoors holding red and blue model airplanes.

The Moon clan (L to R): Max (Doug's son), Steve, Doug, and Jack (Steve's son). It is a true family affair that spans the globe. Jake resides in Singapore.

July 10, 2025: Control Line Precision Aerobatics

Today was “Top 20 Day” in Open class and “Top 12 Day” in Advanced class.
Jul 11, 2025
Man in sunglasses and hat, seated outdoors at a picnic area on a sunny day.

Sean Miller, all the away from California, earned the US National F3N championship in his first Nats competition!

July 10, 2025: RC Helicopters

By Time DiPeri

 
Jul 11, 2025
Man guiding small model airplane on a runway in a grassy field.

Ron Duly releasing Wesley Smith's Class I Carrier model.

July 9, 2025: Control Line Navy Carrier

Wednesday was Scale Class Carrier day. The day started with cloudy skies and the threat of rain, but the clouds cleared off and the sun came out. This will go down in history as the year that the wind did not play a major factor in the outcome of the events.
Jul 10, 2025

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