The Inside Loop — 2013/04
University of Illinois Armory
As I write this, I have just returned from the 2012 Hobbico E-Fest, held February 9–10 at the University of Illinois Armory in Champaign, Illinois. The Armory has been the home of E-Fest since it started eight years ago.
Each year the event draws a large number of spectators and vendors, and more than 200 pilots looking to fly their aircraft inside the spacious indoor track-and-field complex. The facility, which spans 200 by 400 feet with a 98-foot ceiling, was the largest free-span structure with no central support system in the world when it was constructed in 1914.
The Armory is occasionally used by Hobbico and Horizon Hobby to develop and test new aircraft.
This year the Armory will be the venue for the 2013 Indoor Free Flight Nats, scheduled August 7–11. The Indoor FF Nats had previously been held at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The new location is within a few hours’ drive from Muncie, Indiana, and I look forward to attending some of the events to marvel at the skill and craftsmanship that goes into the Indoor FF competition models. I hope the change in venue will allow some people who haven't been able to in the past to attend and participate.
The Outdoor Nats will be held in Muncie at the International Aeromodeling Center, June 25–July 30. A breakdown of the dates for each event can be found on the calendar of events on the AMA website.
The Nats is a great place to meet top competitors from around the world and learn more about the different disciplines that take place throughout the event. For those who are unable to attend any of the Nats events, you will find daily coverage of all of the events in the NatsNews, a daily online newsletter with pictures, scores, and an overview of the competition written by authors who participate in the events they cover.
NatsNews from the 2013 event, as well as those of previous years, can be accessed at www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/natsnews.aspx. Model Aviation will also provide complete event coverage in the November issue of the magazine, which members will receive in late October.
I hope you enjoy this issue of MA, and be sure to check out our exclusive review of the ParkZone VisionAire on page 50.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
