Hope Finn Awarded the Mulvihill Trophy

 

One hundred years ago, a handful of model aviation enthusiasts gathered for an event in St. Louis in what would become known as the National Aeromodeling Championships, commonly referred to as the Nats.

That one-day event has grown into three disciplines: Free Flight (FF), Control Line (CL), and RC, and 14 event categories, with multiple model competition classes often included, and spread throughout four weeks.

 

 

 

 

This year, AMA celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Nats, beginning appropriately enough with rubber-powered Indoor FF aircraft flown indoors in Moscow, Idaho. It ended weeks later with RC Helicopters at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana.

The Nats was presented by Du-Bro, a legacy US manufacturing company that has supported model aviation enthusiasts for decades.

 

The day-to-day action can be found in NatsNews, an online newsletter written by—and for—those who competed in or supported the events.

How does one capture the story of the month-long outdoor event? After talking daily to contestants, it’s clearly about much more than the competition. Model aviation enthusiasts like telling their stories, as evidenced by those who came up to me frequently, often wanting to talk about others just as much—if not more—than themselves.

The word "quintessence" is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as "the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form." It would seem that word might fit the Nats.

Perhaps it can be measured in the distance that some contestants were willing to drive, such as Orin Humphries, who "drove solo 2,440 miles over six days" to make it to the Nats. Like so many before him, his "road to the Nats" is just part of the story. Just look at the parking lots and note the license plates—home might be Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, or much farther away.

Perhaps it can be measured in the number of new friends made, the number of multigenerational families represented, or the number of times a competitor reaches out to help a fellow contestant who is flying in the same event.

"Whether you walk away with a trophy or not, I’m confident you’ll learn something new, meet some new friends, and have a great time," noted AMA President Rich Hanson in the welcome letter from the Nats Program.

Sure enough, after the first week, themes began to emerge at this year’s Nats. Friendship, camaraderie, family, recognition, learning, helping others, having fun—those precise words were used repeatedly by the competitors themselves.

Being the 100th anniversary of the first Nats made it something special as well. "There was a buzz in the air regarding the 100th-year celebration … and people have taken the time to make the annual trek to Muncie, Indiana," noted Dan Kane in NatsNews.

Make no mistake, the competitiveness of the Nats was no different than in the past—many events featured FAI categories, with teams being selected for next year’s world championships (many are still catching up from the COVID pandemic, in which events were canceled or postponed).

 

 

 

 

This year’s Nats stood out for another reason—the weather. Unlike past events that often experienced near-washout conditions from storms, this year’s competition featured only two weather-related issues that had an impact on events throughout the course of the month. Perhaps that is a record! Warm weather and hazy conditions from the Canadian wildfires did not seem to interfere with activities or dampen the enthusiasm of the contestants.

Hosting the Nats is no small feat for the volunteers and staff at the 1,000-acre IAC. Keeping all of the flying sites (seven altogether) in top condition requires tremendous effort and dedication, with mowing often going past sundown. For the most part, participants appeared pleased with the sites and the overall event.

"The cooperativeness [of the staff and volunteers] and the condition of the field deserve special mention," said National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA) President Monroe Michaelis. "[Maintenance has] been tremendous to work with."

Being in the right place at the right time brought it home to me during week one. For one bright, shining moment, it seemed that Site 1 (the location of the first flying site at the IAC) was the center of the model aviation world. If you listened closely enough, you could hear five to six distinct forms of model flying, and you could witness some of the contestants in the air all at the same time. It was a true "flying circus."

 

 

You might have had the opportunity to hear the celebrated takeoff of a CL pulse jet engine. Outside of a turbine-powered model aircraft, there is no other model aviation sound quite like it.

While AMA celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Nats, three Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were commemorating milestones of their own. NSRCA, the Precision Model Pilots Association (PAMPA), and the Miniature Aircraft Combat Association (MACA) all celebrated their 50th year at award banquets following the end of their respective contests. SIGs are responsible for running the Nats, a move made by AMA in the mid-1990s.

 

For the 2023 Nats, as has probably been the case for decades, the contests seemed to capture the essence of a simple theme: fun, friends, and fellowship.

Perhaps these are the elements that separate the Nats from so many other sporting activities. The competitive element is there, to be sure, as noted by AMA District III Vice President Mark Radcliff, who entered his first Nats, one of the celebrated Navy Nats, in 1971.

Like so many, Mark took a break from the event for a few years—in his case, 1980 to 2011. This was his second time competing in RC Scale. Why do it? "For the love of flying," Mark quickly answered. "It’s the competitive factor, it’s just inbred in me—how good am I?"

Why come to the Nats? "Coming to where it’s the home of AMA, it feels good," Robert Green said. "If you are a modeler, you have to experience AMA firsthand. There’s nothing quite like it."

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not just the US that brings contestants to the Nats. The event draws individuals from around the world, and this year was no exception. To name just a few, there was Andrew Shkolik, currently living in Texas but originally from Belarus, flying RC Combat. Also present was Maaz Ansari, age 13, of India, competing in RC Sportsman-class Aerobatics.

Danny Wang attended as well, flying helicopters and participating as part of Team China for the F3CN World Championships for Model Helicopters that was held at the IAC immediately following the Nats. For him, it was going to be a "trifecta" because he planned to attend the International Radio Control Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree held at the IAC at the conclusion of the world championships. Clearly, the prestige of the Nats far exceeds the boundaries of the US.

 

A sense of family binds many to the Nats experience, as was the case for Bob Stalick, former president of the NFFS, who has participated in 22 Nats. "This is third-generation stuff for us," he said. "It’s about the people as much as the flying. I see these people once a year and some of them truly are like family."

Reminded that this was the 100th anniversary of the first Nats, Bob noted, "That’s a hallmark. What’s this going to look like 100 years from now?"

"People are very friendly, not super intense about [the event]," his son, Tom, added. "If there is a new flier at the field, there are always people around willing to help."

But the sense of friendliness and camaraderie seems to extend to all of the events in all three disciplines. Perhaps nothing exemplifies this more than when you hear a competitor ask another, "How did you do that?" or, "Can I borrow a tool or part?" Imagine pit crews at the Indianapolis 500 or some other sporting event doing the same thing. Not likely!

 

It was not hard finding first-time Nats contestants, although they were in the minority compared to the "veterans." Take Milton Renno, who flew in RC Sportsman-class Aerobatics, for example: "This has been wonderful. I want to learn," he said. "My goal was to come to the Nats and fly as good as I could … I have a lot to learn, but this really is the best place for that. The atmosphere—everyone is trying to help one another. It’s not cutthroat because everyone is mentoring. I walk around, see airplanes, and ask a lot of questions."

Lee Ray and his son, Austin, participated in their first Nats. Lee is AMA’s social media manager, and he brought along his father’s Soaring model. The Rays represented one of several third-generation model aviation families that attended the 2023 Nats.

"If you’ve never attended a Nats, do so. Pick an event that means something to you," Lee said. "If your passion is this hobby, put the Nats on your schedule to attend."

 

 

 

"It definitely looks competitive, but I just want to have fun and we want our airplanes to come back in one piece," joked Austin.

Chris Wolfe, a well-known RC media influencer known as the "RC Geek," also attended his first Nats. "If you are looking to become a better pilot, this is the place to come," Chris said. "I learn something after every competition. I’m always happy to help others and that is in the spirit of competition. You want to help people be at their best. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere—it’s a challenge but it’s fun. You do have to come in with realistic expectations. You can leave knowing what it takes to succeed in the years to come."

Chris produced an 18-minute video commemorating the event that can be found on his YouTube channel. The link to this video is in "Sources." 

 

Inspiring others to attend the Nats was an often-repeated theme.

"My dad flies RC Aerobatics. He has inspired me and helped me—I’ve loved model airplanes since I was a kid," said Tom Dose, 18, flying in his second Nats.

"That’s the beauty of the AMA Nats versus a Scale Masters or Top Gun event; you don’t have to qualify to fly. Bringing a friend and convincing them to come is actually pretty easy," noted Jim Rediske. "This is almost like a Sunday fun-fly with a little angst thrown in for good measure! You leave with lifelong friendships."

Throughout the course of 29 days, it became abundantly clear that this was a model aviation event unlike any other. AMA’s marketing slogan for many years was "Bringing Modelers Together." That certainly appeared to describe the Nats culture this year, and probably for many years past.

 

A few more observations from this year’s Nats included longtime Model Aviation "FF Duration" columnist Louis Joyner, who relived some model retrieval episodes that elicited a laugh and an appreciation for the discipline of the sport unlike any other. Yes, modelers are storytellers!

I noticed how some fliers, in this case, International Miniature Aerobatic Club participants, used a brandname "natural artisan water" plastic bottle to carry fuel inside the fuselage. You learn something new every day.

There are unique names given to models, such as Loose Change and Chase the Dream Not the Competition. In addition, trailers used to haul models might proudly display a club’s name, such as the Mohawk Valley Radio Control Modelers.

Speaking of trailers, along with the trucks, vans, and other vehicles on site, there is value in seeing model packing techniques up close. These folks know how to transport their gear! I got a few "pro tips" from Soaring competitor Amy Poole.

Here are some insights from the competitors in their own words:

"It’s not the competition now that is the most important. It’s mainly the camaraderie … it’s like going to several family reunions. But when I go out on the [flightline], I try to do the best I can," said Al Kretz, who was attending his 20th Nats.

"There are a lot of people I’ve known for years who I don’t see except for this week. It’s a lot of fun and I’ve been flying since I was 11," shared Michael Urban.

"[Model aviation is] a healthy life, as it utilizes everything you have. The best part is the people you meet and share it with, like here at the Nats," stated Orin.

"The airplane part is a lot of fun, but it’s more fun with the people. This is a great community of people who help each other. A competitor will give you anything he has in his toolbox … even if he thinks you are going to beat him. It doesn’t matter—this is family. This experience of being here with people of a similar interest does not compare with anything else I’ve done in my lifetime," said Bob Hunt, former Model Aviation aeromodeling editor and a previous winner of the Nats and CL F2B World Championships for CL Model Aircraft.

"The first two times I just came and watched. I just like it more now," noted Sarah Delecki, a FF competitor. "She had no choice," said her father, George Delecki. "She’s been dragged to this event for 10 years … it’s just a great time. It’s very open and friendly, more like a family event. It is hard—it’s 12 hours in the sun. After all, this is a competition."

"If you like competition and you like racing, [the Nats is] the only way to do it in model aviation," said Mike Helsel, an RC Pylon Racing pilot.

"I’ve been doing the Nats for about 60 years. What brings me back are all the friends I’ve had over 50 years. [Nats newcomers should] come and see the Nats to start with, to see what the beginners do," stated John Ballard, a former Model Aviation CL columnist.

 

"I keep trying to finish building my model. That’s my inspiration to come back to the Nats," noted Richard Reynolds.

"What brings you back? I come for the camaraderie and the friendships. Modelers are just really nice people. I still like competition because it makes me a better flier. I primarily come because I want to hang out with my friends," shared Dale Arvin.

"The friendships and the competition [bring me back]. I just really enjoy the aviation aspect of it. It drove my [engineering] career, so it’s just something I have a real passion for," said Gary Freeman, who attended RC Pylon Racing with his son, Brody.

"You get to see a lot of people who you don’t see very often. Seeing these people face-to-face is just a lot of fun. It’s a very friendly competition. If someone has a problem, people are here to help," declared Peter Bauer, a CL Scale flier.

"It’s just a gathering of friends, with a competition thrown in. It’s not ‘dog eat dog.’ We really help each other. CL guys are like that," noted Mark Hughes.

Dave Pierce stated, "I’m just here because I like to fly model airplanes."

"We want [Maaz] to have that exposure, or contact, with other pilots. Where else but the Nats? How experienced these pilots are … why not learn from the best?" stated Wasiriyaz Ansari.

 

 

 

Scale static judges discuss one of the entries.

 

 

 A team member readies for a pit stop during CL Racing.

 

Rylan Ritch and Greg Machen face off in CL Combat competition.

 

Matthew Brown signals to begin his flight during CL Precision Aerobatics competition.

 

Mark Weiss assists in a pull test prior to a flight

 

 

 

Competitors start their engines at the starting line.

 

Henry Nelson and Carl Dodge work to refuel before a flight in CL Speed.

 

 

Chris Montagino approaches as he prepares for his next flight.

 

Gabriel Alimov’s aircraft screams by during Precision Aerobatics competition.

 

 

 

 

Josh Finn and his son Paul wind a motor in preparation for the Mulvihill event.

 

Hope Finn’s Mulvihill-winning model in flight. 

 

Sailplanes take to the sky during the RC Soaring Nats competition.

 

 

Wally Adasczik and his timer, Scott Shaw.

 

RC Aerobatics judge Albert Glenn checks in with Brett Wickizer before his flight.

 

Maaz Ansari stands ready to compete in RC Aerobatics.

 

AMA District III vice president Mark Radcliff escorts his Cherokee 140 from the flightline during the RC Scale competition.

 

 

Pete Mazur stands ready to be judged during Scale static competition.

 

 

 

 

SOURCES: