The 2014 Nats combined camaraderie and competition
The AMA National Aeromodeling Championships celebrated its 88th year this summer. The indoor portion was held at the Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho. I had hoped it would again take place at the University of Illinois Track and Field Armory in Champaign, Illinois, so that I could attend and compete as I did last year.
AMA and the International Aeromodeling Center again hosted the outdoor Nats in Muncie, Indiana. Competitors were greeted with cooler-than-normal temperatures, which many in attendance seemed to appreciate after making wardrobe adjustments to stay warm.
Members of the AMA Publications staff were on site every day during nearly five weeks of events to take photos, deliver NatsNews, and catch up with friends we only see once a year. As in previous years, our authors, contributors, and Publications staff worked together on the NatsNews daily newsletter to share competition highlights with attendees and with those following the action from home. If you haven't already seen it, I recommend checking the NatsNews coverage for the events and disciplines that interest you at www.modelaircraft.org/nats.
The challenging part of covering the Nats for the magazine is trying to provide an overview of an event that lasts more than 30 days. In this issue we have dedicated 10 pages to coverage and focused on two main questions we asked competitors from various disciplines: What was a highlight of this year's event? and Why would you recommend someone attend the Nats next year? Turn to page 22 to find their answers and to learn more about this annual event that promotes camaraderie and friendly competition.
About Us
The "About Us" feature I created for MA pairs two things I believe most readers will appreciate: learning more about hobby-related companies and the people behind them, and the chance to win free products. Ram Products was featured in our March issue, and I am happy to share the story of Precision Aerobatics with you in this issue.
So before you use the magazine as a place to mix epoxy or to help level your building table, be sure to enter for your chance to win a PA Extra MX ARF!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
