The 86th National Aeromodeling Championships-2012/11

The Nats is the world’s largest model airplane gathering,
comprising more than 1,000 competitors and a largely
volunteer workforce of several hundred.
The Indoor Free Flight Nats was held May 23 to 27 in its
longtime venue at the Eastern Tennessee State University’s
Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee. Roughly 50 competitors
and a contingent of Flying Aces Club (FAC) members and 20
Youth members battled it out in AMA, FAI, FAC, and National
Free Flight Society events.
During the summer, the International Aeromodeling Center
in Muncie, Indiana, hosts the outdoor portion of the National
Aeromodeling Championships, which typically draws more than
1,000 pilots and lasts roughly six weeks.
The 2012 Outdoor Nats took place July 9 through August
15 and offered a wide range of weather conditions. This seemed
to be the number-one topic discussed among competitors.
Severe drought conditions left the site scorched and dead
looking. Several weeks of 90° to 100° heat switched abruptly to
temperatures in the low 70s!
Tom Bell
demonstrates
a javelin
launch of his
D Gas model.
This year’s highlights included the fi rst female competitor in
International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) competition,
Dub Jett’s 50th Nats, and longtime Nats Manager Ron Morgan
and his wife, Jane, announcing their retirement from the event.
The newly appointed Nats manager, Dave Guerin, received
some on-the-job training and oversaw the fi nal weeks of the
Nats competitions.
It would be impossible to bring you all of the details of
this year’s events within the confi nes of MA, so we will
focus on some of the best pictures turned in by reporters for
NatsNews, the daily newsletter that covers the activities. Read
an overview of each day’s events in the NatsNews and enjoy
a wealth of additional photos posted online. Please see the
“Sources” listing for extra Nats coverage.
—Jay Smith
[email protected]
SOURCES:
NatsNews
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/natsnews.aspx
Nats scores
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/scores.aspx
Additional photos
www.fl ickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/collections
A group shot of
the US F3A World
Championship
Team: (L-R) Brett
Wickizer, Andrew
Jesky, Jason
Shulman, and
Junior Joseph
Szcur in front.
Discus Launch Glider is an exciting event
to watch. Groups of pilots try to catapult
their aircra as high as 150 feet.
Team Hobbico takes a moment for a group photo during FAI competition
during the Helicopter event.
Allen Go
lands his
Waco. Allen
was also coevent
director
in CL Scale.
Don Richmond brings his Ava in
for a landing with Kerry Cochrell
timing during the Electric Soaring
competition.
Ten-year-old Rylan Ritch tries
his best against Tom Siegler in
CL Combat.
RC Scale Aerobatics had its  rst
female competitor, Jeanette
Hibpshman, who flew her Extreme
Flight Extra competition airplane.
MA Digital Extras!
Read a bonus article about the history of the
Nats in our tablet edition or go online for
scores and daily NatsNews coverage!
Bill Calkins flies
his Sea Vampire in
Royal Australian
Navy colors while
Ted Kraver judges
the flight during
the CL Navy Carrier
events.
Slow and Survivable Combat, or SSC, is one of the top RC Combat
events as evidenced by the pilots showing o their aircra .
Dub Jett, RC Pylon
competitor, was
recognized for his
50 years of Nats
attendance!
The CL Speed circles were full of activity on the
fourth day of competition.
NatsNews authors and
contributors
As in the past, many dedicated authors provided
coverage of the 2012 Nats. We would like to thank
those who took photos and provided daily reports.
Without them, and the NatsNews, this Nats article
would not have been possible.
Others contributed to the publication of
NatsNews. We also want to extend our thanks to
them.
Stan Alexander
Allen Brickhaus
Phil Cartier
Scott Causey
Curtis Cozier
Ed Franz
Tim Gess
Warren Gregory
Don Grissom
John Kagan
Ted Kraver
David Mills
Santiago Panzardi
Jim Quinn
Kim Franz
Caleb Gess
Rachelle Haughn
Liz Helms
Mike Kirda
Wolfgang Ludwig
Arlene Mears
Bob Mears
Jenni Orebaugh
Ashley Rauen
Brendan Robinson
Jay Smith
Ryan Woebkenberg
Photos by NatsNews Reporters
Top  nishers in CL Aerobatics were (L-R, kneeling) Eric Taylor, Advanced;
Ryan Young, Senior; and Gavin Berry, Junior; (L-R, standing) Kaz Minato
(4th), Paul Walker (2nd), Doug Moon (1st), Bob Hunt (3rd), and Bill Rich (5th)
in Open.
A look down the
launch line during
Unlimited Soaring.
Nats Manager Ron Morgan and his wife, Jane, have been
involved with the Nats for 53 years. The 2012 event was their
last. Dave Guerin will assume Ron’s responsibilities.
Brett Sanborn
is gearing up
for the  nal
day of F1D in
Indoor FF at the
Mini-Dome in
Johnson City TN.
Terry Duke happily
shows o his
beautiful Scale
Hughes 530.
Dave and Vickie Pinegar choose to utilize
the grass for taking o and landing their
P-51 in RC Scale.
Brett Sanborn
is gearing up
for the  nal day
of F1D at the
Mini-Dome in
Johnson City TN.

The Nats is the world’s largest model airplane gathering,
comprising more than 1,000 competitors and a largely
volunteer workforce of several hundred.
The Indoor Free Flight Nats was held May 23 to 27 in its
longtime venue at the Eastern Tennessee State University’s
Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee. Roughly 50 competitors
and a contingent of Flying Aces Club (FAC) members and 20
Youth members battled it out in AMA, FAI, FAC, and National
Free Flight Society events.
During the summer, the International Aeromodeling Center
in Muncie, Indiana, hosts the outdoor portion of the National
Aeromodeling Championships, which typically draws more than
1,000 pilots and lasts roughly six weeks.
The 2012 Outdoor Nats took place July 9 through August
15 and offered a wide range of weather conditions. This seemed
to be the number-one topic discussed among competitors.
Severe drought conditions left the site scorched and dead
looking. Several weeks of 90° to 100° heat switched abruptly to
temperatures in the low 70s!
Tom Bell
demonstrates
a javelin
launch of his
D Gas model.
This year’s highlights included the fi rst female competitor in
International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) competition,
Dub Jett’s 50th Nats, and longtime Nats Manager Ron Morgan
and his wife, Jane, announcing their retirement from the event.
The newly appointed Nats manager, Dave Guerin, received
some on-the-job training and oversaw the fi nal weeks of the
Nats competitions.
It would be impossible to bring you all of the details of
this year’s events within the confi nes of MA, so we will
focus on some of the best pictures turned in by reporters for
NatsNews, the daily newsletter that covers the activities. Read
an overview of each day’s events in the NatsNews and enjoy
a wealth of additional photos posted online. Please see the
“Sources” listing for extra Nats coverage.
—Jay Smith
[email protected]
SOURCES:
NatsNews
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/natsnews.aspx
Nats scores
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/scores.aspx
Additional photos
www.fl ickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/collections
A group shot of
the US F3A World
Championship
Team: (L-R) Brett
Wickizer, Andrew
Jesky, Jason
Shulman, and
Junior Joseph
Szcur in front.
Discus Launch Glider is an exciting event
to watch. Groups of pilots try to catapult
their aircra as high as 150 feet.
Team Hobbico takes a moment for a group photo during FAI competition
during the Helicopter event.
Allen Go
lands his
Waco. Allen
was also coevent
director
in CL Scale.
Don Richmond brings his Ava in
for a landing with Kerry Cochrell
timing during the Electric Soaring
competition.
Ten-year-old Rylan Ritch tries
his best against Tom Siegler in
CL Combat.
RC Scale Aerobatics had its  rst
female competitor, Jeanette
Hibpshman, who flew her Extreme
Flight Extra competition airplane.
MA Digital Extras!
Read a bonus article about the history of the
Nats in our tablet edition or go online for
scores and daily NatsNews coverage!
Bill Calkins flies
his Sea Vampire in
Royal Australian
Navy colors while
Ted Kraver judges
the flight during
the CL Navy Carrier
events.
Slow and Survivable Combat, or SSC, is one of the top RC Combat
events as evidenced by the pilots showing o their aircra .
Dub Jett, RC Pylon
competitor, was
recognized for his
50 years of Nats
attendance!
The CL Speed circles were full of activity on the
fourth day of competition.
NatsNews authors and
contributors
As in the past, many dedicated authors provided
coverage of the 2012 Nats. We would like to thank
those who took photos and provided daily reports.
Without them, and the NatsNews, this Nats article
would not have been possible.
Others contributed to the publication of
NatsNews. We also want to extend our thanks to
them.
Stan Alexander
Allen Brickhaus
Phil Cartier
Scott Causey
Curtis Cozier
Ed Franz
Tim Gess
Warren Gregory
Don Grissom
John Kagan
Ted Kraver
David Mills
Santiago Panzardi
Jim Quinn
Kim Franz
Caleb Gess
Rachelle Haughn
Liz Helms
Mike Kirda
Wolfgang Ludwig
Arlene Mears
Bob Mears
Jenni Orebaugh
Ashley Rauen
Brendan Robinson
Jay Smith
Ryan Woebkenberg
Photos by NatsNews Reporters
Top  nishers in CL Aerobatics were (L-R, kneeling) Eric Taylor, Advanced;
Ryan Young, Senior; and Gavin Berry, Junior; (L-R, standing) Kaz Minato
(4th), Paul Walker (2nd), Doug Moon (1st), Bob Hunt (3rd), and Bill Rich (5th)
in Open.
A look down the
launch line during
Unlimited Soaring.
Nats Manager Ron Morgan and his wife, Jane, have been
involved with the Nats for 53 years. The 2012 event was their
last. Dave Guerin will assume Ron’s responsibilities.
Brett Sanborn
is gearing up
for the  nal
day of F1D in
Indoor FF at the
Mini-Dome in
Johnson City TN.
Terry Duke happily
shows o his
beautiful Scale
Hughes 530.
Dave and Vickie Pinegar choose to utilize
the grass for taking o and landing their
P-51 in RC Scale.
Brett Sanborn
is gearing up
for the  nal day
of F1D at the
Mini-Dome in
Johnson City TN.