Let’s say you’re new to the hobby and you’ve got some skill. It’s not who you know; it’s what you know and that you make the effort to go—as in to the Nats. Great stories come out of the Nats about this very phenomenon—about nobodies becoming somebodies in the blink of an eye.

To ask one author to spill out in one article all that happened during a 38-day contest is ludicrous and degrades the meaning of everything the event honors. However, I will share some stories that represent what this year’s Nats experience was for me.

My goal at this year’s Nats was to meet as many people as possible to gain as much information as I could about the contest happenings. Lucky for me, the AMA Publications Department had an ace in the hole called NatsNews.

RC Combat Scale 2610 winner Brian Gilkey holds his streamer-covered Zero. His aggressive tactics (and keen eyesight) made him the pilot to beat.

Eric Henderson’s O.S. 1.60 engine-equipped Oxai Pinnacle for RC Aerobatics used a custom-built exhaust header made by Karl Mueller. Attention to these details sets the winners apart.

World Champion Chip Hyde (R) mentors Ryan Archer before Ryan’s next flight in the Intermediate-class RC Pattern competition.

The Nats is a huge event, and it justifies a worthy report from those who know the interests. NatsNews Chief Editor Liz Helms and I led a team of skilled reporters to bring everyone—not just AMA members—news from the Nats on a daily basis.

Posted online (at www.modelaircraft.org/events/natsnews.asp) and printed for the people on-site, almost 300 pages and more than 800 photos streamed with stories to bring the reader deep into the events. In addition, there were extra tidbits of information that reminded us that we’re out there to have a good time.

The NatsNews is fun to read, with a lot of good inside information. If you missed the event, be sure to catch up with those newsletters. You’ll get a good idea of what equipment the winners were using to make it to the podium. Study them carefully and you’ll see what might be needed to be the next contender. When you come to the Nats, count on being noticed worldwide.

Quique Somenzini found that the addition of the fixed fin behind the canopy of his RC Aerobatics model made a positive difference in side-area control performance.

Jason Shulman carries Sean McMurtry’s Astral XX to the runway. The anhedral stabilizer offers more finite control in FAI-class rolling maneuvers.

Mark Gellart launches his RES Soaring model as Don Richmond times the flight. The winch systems used new trickle chargers to help ensure consistent launches.

One of the most popular events in RC Soaring is Rudder-Elevator-Spoiler (RES). Pilot skill wins out over radio-programming skill.

As I mentioned, an event such as the Nats has many stories—countless is more like it—both large and small. However, a couple affected me in ways that were favorable and encouraged greater participation among those involved. They were inspirational experiences that would be shared to charge others with the mission of coming to Muncie next year to perhaps build their own benchmarks.

Much of what is inspirational about modeling comes from the living history of full-scale aircraft. Dreams of flight are the primary reasons why aviation enthusiasts turn to modeling, because it’s a practical and much safer outlet.

Leo Loudenslager was one of those full-scale aviators who carried out his aspirations methodically and triumphantly. He took his Laser 200 aircraft to the limits of its capability and set the standards for air-show performances and safety along the way.

Leo’s pursuits led him to create a radical new aerobatic aircraft that was duly named for its unique appearance. However, he died before his commissioned aircraft was able to be flown.

Just for fun, Cox Models hosted an unofficial pylon race with its latest RTF Micro Warbirds. Could this be a future Nats RC Electrics event?

Ric Vaughn launches Ernie Schlumberger’s Unlimited-class RC Electrics model. Ric designed the Stardust Special just for this competition.

Paul Wicks leans way back to draw his FF Catapult Glider into the launch position. The tough part is trimming for high winds and best glide.

Baron Johnson is an aspiring aeronautical engineer who is involved in full-scale aircraft and RC models. With the aid of his father Fred Johnson, Baron sought to find out whether or not Leo’s ideas could finally be realized. Baron studied the Shark, as Leo’s aircraft came to be known, to complete his research and build an RC model of the Zivko Aeronautics-built aircraft.

The biggest tell about the Shark model is the tail section that includes an upper and lower fin that pivot together at a root point. The lower fin is retractable, as on the full-scale version, to provide ground clearance. (JR/Horizon Hobby made a servo especially for the application.)