can pretty much review the years of my
life and what happened during those years
by corresponding them to a given year’s
AMA Nationals, or “Nats.” The first Nats I can
actually remember attending was the 1961
championships, and I do remember in detail
much of what I saw there. (I had visited the
1953 and 1957 Nats with my father, but the
memories from those events are sketchy at
best.) I also remember being a part of the
promotional program for that event.
I was living with my family in a small town
just north of the Willow Grove Naval Air
Station, which was to be that year’s Nats venue.
One of my schoolmates (I was in seventh
grade, I think) was the son of one of the higherranking
naval officers stationed at that base.
His dad was assigned the task of doing some
promotional work for the upcoming event.
I was asked to help out in that capacity by
appearing on the very popular “Morgan in the
Morning” television show, which was
produced at a studio in nearby Philadelphia.
My parents okayed the appearance, and when
the big day arrived I remember being driven to
the studio in a naval staff car!
I brought along my prized CL Combat
model. It was a Riley Wooten-designed
Quicker, and I had painted it red. My all-time
CL hero Red Reinhardt had sketched some
flames onto the model, and I filled in the
outlines with yellow modeling dope. I thought
it looked great!
A Johnson .35 engine powered the Quicker,
and in those days we hadn’t even heard of or
considered mufflers. The plan was for me to
actually start the model on stage. I remember
mentioning to one of the show’s technicians
that it was pretty loud, but he didn’t seem too
concerned.
The stage was set (quite literally) for my big
chance to be famous—locally anyway. The
show went to commercial break and I was told
to be ready to start the model as soon as it came
back on air. I attached the battery leads to the
engine and waited with my finger poised to flip
the propeller.
Just as we were counting down to come
back on air, the show was preempted by the
network for coverage of Gus Grissom’s
Mercury Liberty Bell 7 space shot! The launch,
as I recall, was aborted on that day, but the
coverage of the attempt went past the allotted
time for the show I was on, and the segment
was not rescheduled.
Ah, so close to everlasting glory …
(Apologies to Jean Shepherd.)
That was just one of many events in my life
that centered around, and is remembered
because of, a Nats. I’ll wager that if you talked
to other longtime modelers you would hear
many other interesting stories about their Nats
recollections and how their lives were affected
by the experiences. That’s how it is with the
Nats; it’s a life-changing experience.
In this issue there is an overview article about
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
I
this year’s Nats written by Associate Editor
Michael Ramsey. The article is titled “The
2006 Pinnacle of Aeromodeling.” The Nats is
just that: The Pinnacle.
Certainly the best of the best come to the
Nats to compete head to head to establish
who—at that point in time—is indeed the best
pilot in a particular modeling event. But to me
the term “pinnacle” means so much more than
who won what.
To me it means there is a showcase of all
that is good about aeromodeling. It is the
stories of those who struggled against all odds
and those who pitched in to help a fellow
modeler get his or her equipment ready to go
after a mishap at the Nats. And that’s a
pinnacle of spirit.
Many give up their vacation time to come
to the Nats to serve as helpers, judges, event
directors, score runners, etc. And that’s a
pinnacle of modeling service.
The Nats draws many spectators. In
numerous cases these are modelers who feel
that they are not yet of Nats-competition
caliber, but they want to observe, learn, and
cheer on those who are competing. And that’s
a pinnacle of appreciation.
Generally the days of competition are but
the tip of the iceberg of the Nats experience.
The evenings are when the attendees—
competitors, helpers, and spectators—adjourn
to the various eateries and motels and relive
the day’s experiences and experiences from
Nats long gone by. It is a time when
techniques and modeling secrets are shared
and lifelong friends are made. So it is also a
pinnacle of brotherhood among modelers.
I can be contacted by telephone at (610) 614-
1747 or via E-mail at [email protected]. My
address is Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083. MA
Modeling Spoken Here
6 MODEL AVIATION
That’s how it is with
the Nats; it’s a lifechanging
experience.
Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
Editorial offices: (765) 287-1256, extension
224 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays); Fax: (765)
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President
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Staff
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Model Aviation is an official publication of The Academy
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National Aeronautic Association (NAA). NAA is the official
U.S. representative of the Fédération Aéronautique
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aviation, and represents the U.S. at FAI meetings. NAA
delegated to the AMA supervision of FAI-related
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Account Executive Angela Martin
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Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
AMA News Editor Elizabeth Helms
Associate Editor Michael Ramsey
Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Stan Alexander
Darwin Barrie
Bill Boss
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Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
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Greg Gimlick
P.T. Granderson
Eric Henderson
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Louis Joyner
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Mike Keville
Rich Lopez
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Richard L. Perry
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Greg Rose
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Ray Stacy
Joe Wagner
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
11sig1.QXD 9/25/06 9:59 AM Page 6
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 6