2026-2027 RULES
PROPOSALS
By JC Zankl, Competitions and Technical Director | jhanz@modelaircraft.org
Welcome back to the “Competitions/Technical” column. As I write this, we are amid the rules proposal period for 2026-2027 competitions. Currently, all disciplines are on the same cycle change. Initial voting ballots will be sent out on April 15, with initial voting results published on May 15.
2025 Nats
The 2025 Nats registration is now open. You can register at https://nats.modelaircraft.org/nats/register. If you want to reserve a golf cart, please send an email to nats@modelaircraft.org or call Yolanda Jones at (765) 287-1256, ext. 261.
The 2025 Nats calendar is now available. The following is the event schedule:
Indoor Free Flight (FF): May 24-26 (East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee; Outdoor events are in Muncie, Indiana)
RC Pylon Racing: July 5-7
Control Line (CL) Speed: July 6-11
CL Precision Aerobatics (Stunt): July 6-11
CL Racing: July 6-11
RC Helicopter: July 6-9
CL Navy Carrier: July 6-11
CL Combat: July 6-11
CL Scale: July 10-15
RC Scale: July 10-15
RC Soaring: July 19-27
Outdoor FF: July 21-25
RC Scale Aerobatics: July 29-August 1
RC Aerobatics (Pattern): August 19-23
2025 FAI F3A World Championship
The National Society of Radio-Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA), in conjunction with AMA, is hosting the 2025 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft. The event, sanctioned by the FAI World Air Sports Federation, will be held at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center on August 9-16, 2025.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, merchandise, or other ways you can help support the event, please visit the event website at https://2025wch.usaf3a.org or contact the event organizers by email at communications@usaf3a.org.
We also have eight US teams that have or will be traveling to different world championships (listed below). Good luck to all of the US teams. If you would like to support these teams, please reach out to Colleen Pierce at cpierce@modelaircraft.org. Any and all donations are welcome.
March 2-8, 2025: 2025 FAI F5J World Championship for Electric Powered Thermal Duration Gliders, Córdoba, Argentina
July 20-28, 2025: 2025 FAI F1ABCQ World Championships for FF Model Aircraft, Romania
July 22-26, 2025: FAI F3D-F5D World Championships for Pylon Racing Model Aircraft, Airfield in Rothenburg, Oberlausitz, Germany
Dates TBD: 2025 FAI F1E World Championship for FF Slope Soaring Gliders, Czech Republic
July 25-August 2, 2025: 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders, Tarp, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
July 26-August 2, 2025: 2025 FAI F3CN World Championship for Model Helicopters, Brasov, Romania
August 9-16, 2025: 2025 FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft, Muncie, Indiana, USA
August 10-15, 2025: 2025 FAI F3B World Championship for Model Gliders, Dresden, Germany
