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Stories from the Flight Line

NATS News

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

Toy airplanes lined up on a runway, people preparing them for flight.

This is the pit area between circles three and four.

July 8, 2025: Control Line Precision Aerobatics

Today, contestants were greeted with cool temps in the low 60's. It was cool enough that I even warmed the vent air just a bit in the car. No AC was needed this morning. On the way back to the motel, however, the car's AC was set to max, with all nozzles pointed at me!
Jul 9, 2025
Man kneels on a field, holding a remote control next to a red and yellow model helicopter.

Expert pilot and world F3C judge, Gordie Meade, in his first scale competition.

July 7, 2025: RC Helicopters

Today began with a gloomy gray sky and ended with sunshine after a very short downpour around mid-day. Again, we were able to get three rounds of AMA/FAI competition, as well as one round of Scale flying and the static portion of the judging.

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  • Judges Tom Dooley, Nob Muraki and Gordie Meade going over the critical details of the Bell 206 model.
    Judges Tom Dooley, Nob Muraki and Gordie Meade going over the critical details of the Bell 206 model.
  • AMA Scale master ready to fly.
    AMA Scale master ready to fly.
  • The author with his Scale Life Flight (Vanderbilt University, Tennessee).
    The author with his Scale Life Flight (Vanderbilt University, Tennessee).
  • Cliff Hiatt competes in F3C with a 6S solos model helicopter.
    Cliff Hiatt competes in F3C with a 6S solos model helicopter.
Jul 8, 2025
Man assembling model airplane outdoors on a table.

Bill Hughes working on his ½ A Proto model.

July 7, 2025: Control Line Speed

Monday July 7, 2025 was the first day of Control-line Speed. We flew ½A Speed and ½A Proto Speed. The difference between the two events are that ½ A speed is timed for five laps after the plane gets up to speed. Proto, however, is flown from a standing start and is timed for 10 laps total.

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  • Patrick Hemple preparing his ½ A Proto speed for a flight.
    Patrick Hemple preparing his ½ A Proto speed for a flight.
  • 1/2A Proto Speed winners (l to r): Patrick Temple (2nd), Glen Van Sant (1st), James Van Sant (3rd).
    1/2A Proto Speed winners (l to r): Patrick Temple (2nd), Glen Van Sant (1st), James Van Sant (3rd).
  • 1/2A Speed winners (l to r): Glen VanSant (3rd), Bill Hughes (1st), James Van Sant (2nd).
    1/2A Speed winners (l to r): Glen VanSant (3rd), Bill Hughes (1st), James Van Sant (2nd).
  • Henry Nelson holds James Van Sant’s ½A Speed plane while Glen Van Sant fuels it for another speed flight.
    Henry Nelson holds James Van Sant’s ½A Speed plane while Glen Van Sant fuels it for another speed flight.
Jul 8, 2025
Two people in helmets hugging on a grassy field, smiling under a cloudy sky.

Aimee Olson & Anna Minor competed in the most interesting match of the day.

July 7, 2025: Control Line Combat

F2D combat is a double-elimination event, that started on Monday, July 7th. Round one went well.

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  • Left to right: Bill Maywald (2nd alternate),  Rylan Ritch (3rd alternate), Chuck Rudner (1st alternate), Mark Rudner (team member), Dave Fischer (team member), Andy Minor (team member)
    Left to right: Bill Maywald (2nd alternate),  Rylan Ritch (3rd alternate), Chuck Rudner (1st alternate), Mark Rudner (team member), Dave Fischer (team member), Andy Minor (team member)
  • Arlene Mears has been organizer for Nationals for 15 years.
    Arlene Mears has been organizer for Nationals for 15 years.
  • Aimee Olson & Anna Minor during their very close match.
    Aimee Olson & Anna Minor during their very close match.
  • Top Junior pilots: Travis Machen(1st alternate), Anna Minor (Junior Team Member), Sam Londke (2nd alternate).
    Top Junior pilots: Travis Machen(1st alternate), Anna Minor (Junior Team Member), Sam Londke (2nd alternate).
  • F2D scoreboard.
    F2D scoreboard.
Jul 8, 2025
Boy assembling model plane on grass.

Wesley Smith with his Nostalgia 30 model

July 7, 2025: Control Line Precision Aerobatics

On Monday, July 7th, there were three events being held: Old Time Stunt (OTS), Classic, and Nostalgia 30.

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  • Orestes Hernandez's plane
    Orestes Hernandez's plane
  • Dan Banjocks galloping comedian.
    Dan Banjocks galloping comedian.
  • Keith Trostle's Chisler entered in Classic.
    Keith Trostle's Chisler entered in Classic.
  • Joe Gilbert’s entry.
    Joe Gilbert’s entry.
  • Mike Palko's Electric powered Mustang.
    Mike Palko's Electric powered Mustang.
  • It’s nice to see a semi-scale P-40.
    It’s nice to see a semi-scale P-40.
  • Since the author is known for a building a Stuka or two, this Jack Sheeks version piqued his interest
    Since the author is known for a building a Stuka or two, this Jack Sheeks version piqued his interest
  • Old Time Stunt scores
    Old Time Stunt scores
  • Classic Scores
    Classic Scores
  • Nostalgia 30 Scores
    Nostalgia 30 Scores
Jul 8, 2025
Five people holding model airplanes on a grassy field.

The top five Intermediate competitors posed for a photo.

July 6, 2025: Control Line Precision Aerobatics

Beginner and Intermediate classes of Control Line Precision Aerobatics were flown on Sunday July 6th. There were two entrants in Beginner with seven in Intermediate. These events were flown on the grass circles. Grass is much more forgiving, than asphalt in case of an accident.
Jul 8, 2025
Two men discuss under a pavilion beside RC helicopters on tables.

Nick Maxwell discussing the freestyle maneuvers for F3N competition.

July 6, 2025: RC Helicopter

Most of the competitors arrived bright and early (8:00am) for our pilots meeting by the Event Director (ED), Chris Goodin, for the AMA and FAI classes. Scale helicopters, due to slight miscommunication, will have its official pilots meeting on Monday morning.
Jul 7, 2025
Man working with equipment at a picnic shelter, open field in background.

F3N multi-time USA team member, Cade Ciripompa, fine tunes his model for competition practice.

Nats RC Helicopter 2025 – Introduction

Saturday (7/5/2025) was the first day of setup for the helicopter national championships for all classes of AMA and FAI disciplines.
Jul 7, 2025
Colorful model airplane on grass, featuring red, yellow, and checkered patterns.

2025 Control Line Precision Aerobatics – Introduction

Simply put, Control Line (CL) Precision Aerobatics is an event where a builder of a model airplane is judged not only on how well they build their plane, but also how well they fly it in a prescribed flight pattern involving aerobatics.
Jul 7, 2025

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