The Nats is unlike any other annual “contest” in the world. The idea of the event is to attract competitors from across the nation so that they may come together in a face-off, if you will, to determine who is the best. With luck, skill, or otherwise, a champion is crowned who has outdone those who have participated in a particular special-interest event.

The AMA Nationals reflects, to a reasonable degree, what is popular in the hobby today. Not every discipline can be held during the summer at one location; some exceptions have to be made.

The Indoor FF portion of the Nats has to be held off-site in Johnson City, Tennessee, at the East Tennessee State University Mini-Dome. And holding an RC Slope Soaring event on the open plains of Indiana isn’t exactly an attractive idea.

Exceptions are made as to what events are run, but the clear goal is to promote excellence in the hobby. New events are added to the Nats schedule when enough interest and support are generated.

Opportunity is a side effect of vying for a national title. Many participants see the Nats as a chance to be recognized, and they can make their mark on a number of levels. The recognition of their peers is a great reward, but sometimes a person can catch a lucky break and be “discovered” as a new talent, the benefits of which vary greatly, but the prospect is exciting.

The streamlined fuselage of Scott Gray’s Kyosho Sylphide 90 FAI helicopter aids in presenting smoother-looking maneuvers to the panel of judges.

Bob Harris scratch-built this Hiller OH-23D. Larger gas-engine-powered models proved to have smoother flight characteristics, which earned them higher flight scores.

Terry Duke’s Vario 1:5.5-scale Hughes 500E is powered with a Zenoah G-23. It uses four-point CCPM control and a dual-axis gyro for solid hovers.

The most gratifying, and most often accomplished, aspect of the Nats is the opportunity to have a lot of fun while in the pursuit of what can be learned about this treasured pastime. But the really cool part is that modelers put their best foot forward at the Nats, and they do it for many reasons—some of which are more humble than others.

Imagine the Oscars, with the celebrities and the screaming fans. The heroes and talented individuals who attend the Nats create an aura that breeds excitement. What happens at a Nats competition is the stuff legends are made of, and anyone who is privileged with the experience can’t help but feel like part of something that is truly special.

Many pilots in the popular events make good on their promises to their sponsors, but there are also those who use the Nats to maintain friendships and continue their pursuit of becoming better modelers. Most times these people are one and the same—a point that strongly illustrates the personality and character of those who are attracted to this hobby.

I’ve never witnessed more moments of pride than at the Nats. Sportsmanship flows freely, which is an example of why aeromodeling has so many time-honored traditions.

Windy Urtnowski rounds the Stunt circles. Finished in real Ferrari paint.

A Big Bruce Racing Products Polecat waits at the ready line for the next Quarter 40 RC Pylon race. Equipped with the stock Nelson Q40 engine, the combination is a winner.

Bill Wisniewski adjusts the engine on his CL Formula 40 Pink Lady. His engine-tuning skill has earned him numerous championships.

Sportsmen are those who have an obvious affection for what they want to do well; in this case it’s anything having to do with model airplanes. They have an attitude that encourages others to envy them and challenge their aptitude in a friendly manner.

When friends get together to play, a good time usually prevails. Traditions unfold into events that are organized with the same passion so the future of those events can be secured for generations.

Bringing the Nats together takes an enormous amount of effort. If you’ve ever been to any kind of flying event, or a simple backyard barbecue for that matter, multiply that amount of planning, preparation, and affection by 100. If you can imagine that level of commitment, you might realize, in a small way, how really big the AMA Nats is, and perhaps how much it means to so many people.

Planning for the Nats actually starts in October of the year prior. Volunteers led by Ron Morgan, Wayne Yeager, and Bob Brown (just to name a few) take time out of their busy schedules to meet with SIG volunteer representatives. These SIG personnel take the opportunity to challenge themselves with the prospect of running one of the more than 15 RC, CL, or FF events hosted at the 1,000-plus-acre AMA National Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana.

The AMA facility is basically at the disposal of the individual SIGs so they can run their own contests. After all, each of these groups has the responsibility of keeping up with the times, so they’re the experts when it comes to running an event that best emulates the current status of that particular part of the hobby.

To snatch an opponent’s streamer, Randy Hodges coats his RC Combat model’s LE with a sticky paste called Tanglefoot Bird Repellent.

Standing at the center of the circle, Don Cranfill launches a CL Combat F2D model for an eager beginner. These airplanes are some of the fastest in competition.

A good launch in RC Pylon can give the pilot that added edge. Gino DelPonte catches some air as he launches Lyle Larson’s Dago Red.

The Nats is where many competitors come to make a statement. Winning here means having bested top modelers and pilots from across the US. An enticing aspect of making it at the Nats is that it’s an open event, meaning that anyone can compete.