2023 NATS DATES
THE DATES for the 2023 Indoor and Outdoor Nats, sponsored by Du-Bro, have been selected. The 100th anniversary of the first Nats will kick off on July 6 with the Control Line (CL) Scale and RC Scale Nats. These outdoor contests will take place at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana.
The 2023 Indoor Free Flight (FF) Nats will be held from June 19-23 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. All but the Indoor FF Nats will take place in Muncie.
For more event information, visit https://nats.modelaircraft.org/nats/event-info. The following are the scheduled dates for the 2023 Nats:
- CL Scale: July 6-9
- RC Scale: July 6-9
- CL Combat: July 10-14
- CL Precision Aerobatics: July 9-14
- CL Racing: July 8-14
- CL Navy Carrier: July 9-14
- CL Speed: July 9-14
- RC Pylon Racing: July 9-14
- RC Combat: July 11-13
- RC Soaring: July 15-23
- Outdoor FF: July 17-21
- RC Aerobatics: July 23-27
- RC Scale Aerobatics: July 28-31
- RC Helicopter: July 28-31
To remain current with all of the Nats dates, make sure that you check the IAC calendar at www.modelaircraft.org/iac-calendar!
THE VOTING PROCESS BEGINS: RULES PROPOSALS FOR 2024-2025 AMA COMPETITION REGULATIONS
By Tony Stillman, AMA Safety/Technical/Competitions Director | tonys@modelaircraft.org
ON JANUARY 1, 2024, the new AMA Competition Regulations for 2024-2025 will be released. This will conclude the two-year rulemaking process for all AMA competition regulation events.
As I wrote this article in late March, the deadline to submit rules proposals for the new rule book (March 15) had passed. The AMA Contest Boards will now be deliberating on the proposals that have been submitted. You can find all of the new proposals on the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/competition-resources/rules-regulations/rules-prop....
The voting process will begin on April 15 with the initial vote of the Contest Boards. The Contest Board members are made up of volunteers who are appointed by each AMA district vice president. You can find a listing of the Contest Board members on the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/events/competition-resources/contest-board-members.
Each category’s Contest Board will review each proposal that pertains to its category of events. These board members have their opinions on these proposals, but this is where you come in. If you are active or are looking to become active in these categories, they would love to hear your thoughts on these proposals.
Much the way your local congressperson represents you to the US Congress, these Contest Board members represent AMA members in their districts, so review the proposals and reach out to them with your thoughts. You can find a link to their emails right next to their names in the Contest Board listing.
The initial vote is designed to weed out undesirable proposals that typically have major flaws. Those that pass this vote move on to the intermediate or cross-proposal vote. Cross proposals can be submitted to fix or address an issue found in the original proposal. These cross proposals can be submitted by the original proposer or another AMA member.
The final vote occurs on August 30 this year, and the proposals that pass are incorporated into their specific portion of the AMA Competition Regulations to form the 2024-2025 edition.
For more information, please contact the AMA Competition department at (765) 287-1256, ext. 230.
FAI INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND AMA
By Colleen Pierce, FAI and Sanctions Coordinator | cpierce@modelaviation.org
AEROMODELING IS an international sport. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), headquartered in Switzerland, is the governing body for international competition in sport aviation, including aeromodeling, drones, and rockets, as well as several other air sports organizations.
In addition to the factor of national pride, our participation helps to ensure that the US is in the forefront of the technical process, which is the natural result of FAI competition.
In order for the US to participate in the international arena of competitive model flying, AMA has established team selection committees that work closely with AMA Special Interest Groups to create programs for each discipline. This process allows for top fliers to be identified, determining who is to be sent to international competitions.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, AMA relies on support from individuals and clubs to finance various programs, events, and teams. We would be grateful if you would consider a donation.
If you are excited by this proposal and are interested in supporting our fundraising efforts, please contact Colleen Pierce to make a donation.
In 2023, the AMA will field teams in a total of 10 world championship events, with participation in 23 separate disciplines within those events. Following is a list of upcoming FAI World Championships.
- July 2-7, 2023 — 2023 FAI World Championships for Space Models — Austin, Texas (USA)
- July 24-29, 2023 — 2023 FAI F3B World Championship for Model Gliders — Hellevadvej Rodekro, Denmark
- August 1-4, 2023 — 2023 FAI F1E World Championship for Free Flight Slope Soaring Gliders — Turda, Romania
- August 1-5, 2023 — 2023 FAI F3DE World Championships for Pylon Racing Model Aircraft — Drachten, Netherlands
- August 2-9, 2023 — 2023 FAI F3CN World Championships for Model Helicopters — Muncie, Indiana (USA)
- August 2-9, 2023 — 2023 FAI F1ABC World Championships for Free Flight Model Aircraft — Moncontour du Poitou, France
- August 13-19, 2023 — 2023 FAI F5J World Championship for Electric Powered Thermal Duration Gliders — Dupnitsa, Bulgaria
- August 19-26, 2023 — 2023 FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft — Warwick, Australia
- August 26-31, 2023 — 2023 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders — Sanpetru, Romania
- October 6-9, 2023 — 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship — Namwon, Jeolla Province, Korea
Model Builder Plans
AMA PLANS SERVICE now houses all plans formerly sold through Model Builder magazine, Bill Northrop’s Plan Service, and the Scratch Builder’s Almanac. There are more than 18,000 plans in the collection.
The Little Mike, designed by Jim O’Reilly, and the Shoestring, designed by David O’Reilly, obtain 17-inch wingspans and 6 sq. ft. of wing area. These two models were designed with Control Line 1/2A Scale Racing in mind.
You can order plans for the Little Mike and Shoestring, plans number 2794, for $8 by visiting the AMA Plans Service website at https://plans.modelaircraft.org/ or calling (765) 287-1256, ext. 507.
FOR A MODELER, going to the flying field can represent a big decision. Many of us have a wide variety of aircraft hanging in our shops and/or garages, but what are we going to take? How much room do we have in the car, truck, or trailer? For those who might fly RC, Control Line (CL), and Free Flight (FF), the decision is multiplied!
In the late 1980s, Bob Underwood developed an airplane that might have made that decision easier. Called the THINGAMABOB, the flexible design could be flown via RC, tethered with basic RC, or even flown as a CL model.
The landing gear could easily be converted from tricycle gear to a tail-dragger, and a quick swap of a power tray would switch the model from a .25 glow engine to electric power.
As Bob noted, it was meant to be “easy to build, relatively inexpensive, and fly reasonably well.” He wanted a trainer that a beginner would feel comfortable flying without spending a great deal of time or money.
He gave the rights for the airplane to
AMA, with the stipulation that any profits from the model would be directed toward youth activities. A construction article appeared in the April 1990 issue of Model Aviation, AMA Plans number MA649.
Today, this airplane is part of the museum’s collection and highlights the ingenuity of aeromodelers and problem solvers who often feel the journey is as much fun, or even more, than the finished product.
As an aside to the story, a friend of Bob’s
