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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

Welcome to the 2025 National Aeromodeling Championships for 2025. My name is John Moll, I’m from The St. Louis, Missouri area and I’ll be filling everyone in on Control Line Speed events for 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 came about during the time that the US Navy sponsored the Nationals and they wanted an event with a Navy theme. These events consist of three separate sections, High Speed, Low-Speed, and Landing.
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 Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)/League of Silent Flight (LSF) Soaring Nats are here again!
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

Whether fighting demons in the air, spectating, or simply having a good time, the three days at the Indoor Free Flight Nats are always special. For me, memories are made here, and the 2025 Nats at the ETSU dome in Johnson City was no different.
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 Nats is in the books. The participants are in the process of returning home with new memories and plans for what to build before next year’s contest.
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 a change in the outside weather. The morning was a bit cooler and a light rain had settled in. Opinions were mixed around the dome as to how the change in conditions would impact the buoyancy of the air and drift patterns inside the building.
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 morning of the second day of the 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats competition featured several popular events. Limited Pennyplane saw the largest participation of any of the events so far, with 16 entries.
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 first day of the 2025 Indoor Free Flight Nats opened with glider events being flown from 8am to 11am. There was a flurry of activity during the three hour window that left Joshua Finn on top of Hand-Launched Glider and Don Slusarczyk in a close second.
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 return to the East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee. Tony Italiano brought the Nats to ETSU in 1987. The venue’s stable air and relative proximity to much of the United States’ indoor flying population led to its popularity as a Nats site.

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2025 AMA Indoor Free Flight Nats Schedule

Saturday, May 24th

8:00am – 11:00am

Standard Catapult Glider

Hand-Launched Glider

11:00am – 8:00pm

F1R

F1D

HL Stick

AMA Cabin

Sunday, May 25th

8:00am – 2:00pm

P18

LPP

F1M

Pennyplane

Manhattan Cabin

 

2:00pm – 8:00pm

EZB

F1D

HL Stick

AMA Cabin

Monday, May 26th

8:00am – 4:00pm

A6

Ministick

F1L

 

3:30pm

P18 Mass launch

 

All times in by 4:00pm!

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FAQs 

Q: How is the winner determined for Indoor Free Flight events?

A: The model that stays in the air the longest wins.

 

Q: How long can a flight last?

A: Depending on the event, the winning time may range from under one minute to around 40 minutes.

 

Q: What makes it go?

May 23, 2025

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