The Nats recent Executive Council decision bring Nats Muncie 1996 its clear will big changes store championships Its quite likely Nats will change considerably traditional format may become event will take week run may entail involvement special-interest groups make happen certainly will different 1950s 1960s Navy-sponsored contests Nationals amazing collections modelers compressed rotation Navy bases generally Los Alaniitos California Grand Prairie Texas Willow Grove Pennsylvania Glenview Illinois recall things Navy Nats days 350 contestants events such hA Gas long lines process models evenings walks through contestants hangar check out enormous quantity variety models under roof unmistakable sound Dynajets odd hours Blue Angels peiforming weekends renewing once-a-year friendships tremendous amount work put Navy personnel endured week hot sun bunch us crazy modelers Navy Carrier Cruise Juniors Seniors got free trip Pensacola Florida cruise Gulf Mexico aircraft canier Lexington end hot days flying fantastic milk served mess hall cold rich opinion unparalleled supermarket still crave milk after Ive out flying firmly believe habit stems long-ago Nats about Apollo 11 flight during 1969 Nats chance see Dave Platts fantastic Dauntless up close Olathe 1968 Stunt finals year Beautiful models flown great skill Didat Woody Blanchard win Grand Championship almost year ultimate irony wasnt always torrential downpour ROW Rise Off Water day people building rebuilding round clock work hangar Nats Hobby Shop trophy cage on. Thats lot good memories others shared flew Nationals during years think its mistake look back days too much longing time terrific werent problems Mountain Creek Lake Grand Prairie took its share models models landing off-base Glenview occasionally stolen worse engine cut remainder model now have chance make little history potential retooling Nats offers opportunity return luster once true national championships winning trophy tough something cherished seems its time special-interest groups step up volunteer services help run part Nats know no runs free flight contest better free fighters imagine same has true Pattern Pylon CL Aerobatics Soaring thats knock Nats run today have learned anything two years its no person can possibly keep up nuances discipline its nuances can jump up bite contest workersand The potential retooling Nats offers opportunity return luster once editors SIGs formed look out needs specific models modelers What better way take care business help run national championships Maybe cant bring back camaraderie atmosphere several hundred lunatics hangar week midsummer can bring Nats back point whole summers flying aimed toward can create quality competition disciplines holding contest flier-friendly possible we can restore quality quantity participants Perhaps Bob Underwood suggested Technical Director column need look total number events flown Nats combine reduce number glance listing Competition Regulations shows staggering number events could part Nats Its easy say well have have event thats much easier said C 0 R N E R administrated low turnoutnot just 1994 recent yearsin some FAt events indicates may good place selectively cut back Examples F3D RC Pylon oniy six entrants year FlC FF Power two fliers Chicopee 92 three year F2C CL Team Race five fliers scores Thats say FM events should dropped Nats entirely after F3A RC Pattern did have 26 fliers year F3C RC Helicopter 21 Maybe aren t great numbers would seem adequate quality competition low turnout FM events probably symptomatic general decline participation US FM programs indicator problems Nats number contest fliers has decreased general regardless discipline decrease felt keenly FM events Nationals FM events have traditionally field teams interuational competition time probably stimulant program participation really effective now administrative costs justified Lets look back fondly Navy Nats daysin ways terrific lets take lessons learned contests have followed lay foundation new Nats traditions times will have such opportunity iAAAA Jim Haught Managing Editor December 1994 3 left its owner crowded conditions several Nats sites left CL RC events mercy DTed FF models weekends featured short flying days Los Alarnitos largely unknown modelers east Rockies