LARKS and the 52nd Nats

Improvements highlight plans as world’s biggest model airplane meet returns to Louisiana

As seen in the June 1978 issue of Model Aviation.

Those who attended the ’74 and ’75 National Model Airplane Championships at Lake Charles almost unanimously acclaimed the latter event as a big improvement. Similarly, the ’78 Nats is expected to be even better than the ’75 event. A number of things happened in three years to justify the expectation.

Indoor fliers will enjoy a brand new site—the Burton Coliseum with a 100-ft. domed ceiling and circular construction about 300 feet in diameter, as compared with the 55-foot ceiling of the previous site. Models test flown in the new building have confirmed its excellence.

New Indoor site is Burton Coliseum, the best for such activity that the Nats has had to offer in many years—higher and larger, and with minimum drift according to recent model flight tests.

Outdoor free flighters will enjoy better retrieving conditions. Much of the previous jungle-like wooded area off the runways have now been cleared, including a new golf course which has considerably added to the open space. Also, a lot of high grass between the runways and taxiways has been cut down.

A relocated control-line site will be closer to the action of other events, with Combat no longer so widely separated as it was before. For those who remember the primitive ’77 Nats Combat site, the ’78 location will be a tremendous improvement. Combat will be located about where it was before, but the site has been graded to eliminate the drainage problems of ’74-’75.

Radio Control events will enjoy the improvements made in ’75 to overcome the ’74 problems—lots of concrete parking to avoid the previous mud problems at the Pattern, Pylon and Scale sites; also a far superior site for RC Soaring as compared with ’75.

RC Helicopter flying will be an official event this year, sharing the RC Soaring site. Both groups will enjoy improvements made at the local LARKS field; such as a 200-foot long permanent shad canopy with worktables underneath, a clubhouse adjacent to the pit area, with food and drink concessions nearby, also a hobby shop right on the site!

LARKS club field, 9 miles south of Sulphur and southwest of Lake Charles, is the ’78 Nats RC Helicopter and Soaring site. Long shade canopy and concrete runway are special features.

For those who previously used the LARKS site for a practice field, the new look will be dramatic, including a bigger runway and much more clear area all around. The LARKS field was previously noted to be one of the best club sites in the country and it’s even better now.

As before, the LARKS (Lake Area Radio Kontrol Society) will be out in full force to help operate the Nats. Club members were outstanding in ’74 and ’75 in terms of hospitality and hard work. They have pledged to put forth a similar effort this year on behalf of all out-of-town visitors.

The Nats headquarters will be different. The former gymnasium complex at Chennault air base will be the center of non-flying activity. Scale models will be displayed in the gym itself, while the Nats hobby shop, trophy room, food concessions, and AMA headquarters share the attached room.

Nats HQ will be the former gymnasium complex at Chennault air base. Taller building at right is the gym, where Scale models will be displayed. Lower building at left is for Nats registration.

The headquarters complex is located further north on the airfield than before. It is next to where CL Combat and RC Helicopters were flown in ’74-’75. From this point, access to all the airfield activities will fan out. The map shows the new layout.

Entrance to Chennault air base is from west via Legion Street or via north from Broad Street. Previous Nats HQ and Control Line site was at lower left, opposite end from Area 2.

Since the previous Lake Charles Nats, the nearby Interstate Highway that was under construction is now finished. This will provide quicker access to and from the Chennault base and all other points; the dorms, the helicopter-soaring site, and motel complexes.

McNeese State University again has offered their dormitories to contestants and officials, including families. Rates are still low, only $5 per person per night, two per room—no charge for any youngsters who don’t need a bed. Many will remember the air conditioning, a great relief after a hot day on the field. Some actually said it was too cold!

Dormitory buildings at McNeese State University were very popular at previous Nats—over 600 stayed there. Facilities are modern, air conditioned, economical, and close to eating places.

Besides the dorms, Lake Charles has many motels and the prices are generally lower than elsewhere around the country. A free list is available from AMA. RC Helicopter and Soaring interests should note that, because of their activities at LARKS field, the Holiday Inn at Sulphur—10 miles west of Lake Charles—is the nearest motel. It was formerly the Rodeway Inn, the previous soaring headquarters.

Camping again is possible at the Nats. There is unlimited room at Chennault air base, some but less room at the LARKS field, and additional camper space at the new Indoor site.

As before, Lake Charles still has many economical places to eat. There are all the usual franchises of national fast food chains, plus independent restaurants and cafeterias. Great seafood is what many previous Nats contestants remember and there is still plenty of it at comparatively low prices.

Interstate highways I-10 and I-210 are the basic roads to and from Nats points of interest. I-210 is newly open this year. I-10 is the main highway between Beaumont, TX, and New Orleans.

The return to Lake Charles is the nearest thing to the Nats of old. The flying sites are unrestricted as to hours. For Free Flight and Control Line there is ample room for unlimited test and fun flying in addition to the competition. For the first time since ’75 all Free Flight events will be on the same field as Control Line and RC, yet with minimum interference between categories.

The official schedule of the 1978 Nationals.

Chennault air base is huge. The runway is almost two miles long and 300 feet wide. The taxiways are bigger than the runways at most airports. And there are vast concrete areas—formerly aircraft parking ramps—that are bigger than some airports.

Another unusual feature of Lake Charles is that it is still the land of the nickel phone call! This does not mean, however, that the city is backward. Quite the contrary. Lake Charles is modern, progressive, and growing rapidly. Its Civic Center—the previous Nats Indoor site—is one of the finest in the country.

The lake for which Lake Charles is named adds to the appeal of the area. It’s big and beautiful and fine for swimming and fishing. There is talk of having an unofficial seaplane competition on the lake. It’s ideally suited to that purpose, so the idea may come into being this year. Interested RC’ers are invited to let AMA Headquarters know if they would participate in such an event—the first Seaplane Nationals?

Heat and humidity were previous worries about the Lake Charles Nats. But many who came and enjoyed now downplay that concern. They note that it is often as hot back home in August and that the generous use of air conditioning in the area has greatly reduced the problem off the field. They also have learned that when it gets very hot a short shower usually occurs to cool things off, but not the all day rains that have plagued other Nats. Flying may get interrupted, but it has rarely been stopped completely.

All in all, a Nats in Lake Charles offers a more relaxed and less restricted opportunity for fun. Flying is possible from dawn to dusk at Chennault air base, with no noise complaint problems. There are no military prohibitions or interruptions. Motorbike retrieval of models is okay. And night flying (unofficial) may again be tried, as it was in ’75—only at a Lake Charles Nats has this been possible.

It all adds up to a lot of enjoyment and the most economical conditions for a family oriented Nats.

Further food for thought: it has become harder and harder to put on a Nats due to cost and complexity factors; so much so that there has been increasing talk in recent years about discontinuing the Nats, or changing it significantly, to make it more manageable. This might be the last opportunity to enjoy a Nats in the classic tradition. If so, Lake Charles offers the best combination of factors to make the trip worthwhile.

If you were ever inclined to go to a Nats, this year’s is recommended as the one with the most to offer from a facilities viewpoint. Lake Charles is the only known site in the country with so much so ideally suited to a Nats. Thus, the stage is set once again for AMA to put on the world’s biggest model meet. You are invited!