1976 NATIONAL MINIATURE AIRCRAFT CHAMPIONSHIPS
BIGGEST EVER—VERY LIKELY
More Events Than Ever.
Two Colleges Offer Dormitories.
Two Airfields for Outdoor Events.
Special Attraction—the Air Force Museum.
- Excellent facilities will accommodate 2,000 contestants.
- Three Ohio cities—Columbus, Dayton, Springfield—combine to host.
- Air Force and civilian communities welcome aeromodeling as part of special bicentennial aviation program.
It's not just PR talk. There are many solid reasons for expecting AMA's annual extravaganza to top previous attendance records. Here's a simple one: two out of three AMA members live within 600 miles of the 1976 site(s)!
The Chicago and Philadelphia Nats of past years were always the largest. This year, with the Nats roughly halfway between each city, a large turnout from both areas is probable; especially since it has been three years since the last Chicago-area Nats and seven years since Philadelphia.
Furthermore, with the Canadian Nats on the West Coast this year, a large contingent from the Maple Leaf country is expected—most Canadian modelers are from the East.
Meanwhile there are more modelers able to travel than ever. AMA's membership growth typifies the trend, with more adults than ever. And, since we are living in a mobile society, with more drivers and campers, it's only natural to expect that the Nats will get a proportionate share from the tremendous boom that aeromodeling has been enjoying the past few years.
But does more mean good? The answer for this year is that a bigger Nats should also be a better Nats. Not due to size but to more attention and effort for each modeling interest. The big problem in putting a Nats operation together is the need to accommodate many different and often conflicting activities. This year more attention than usual has been given to providing for the differing needs.
In reality the Nats is a combination of separate contests, with separate crews for each specialty. This is a physical necessity, in order to have so many events going on at once. But it also is what makes possible the running of many good events—specialists for each can be used. Thus RC Pylon enthusiasts operate the Pylon events while CL Speed specialists run the Speed events, and so on. Actually, Control Line events have five separate crews: Speed, Racing, Combat, Aerobatics, Carrier. Likewise, there are three RC crews: Pattern, Pylon, Soaring. There are also separate Indoor and Outdoor Free Flight crews. Scale specialists take care of Scale events: Free Flight, Control Line, and Radio Control.
This year, more than ever before, AMA has sought the help and advice of special-interest organizations. From basic planning, through actual event operation in most cases, these organizations have been tremendously helpful: NFFS (National Free Flight Society), NMPRA (National Miniature Pylon Racing Association), NSRCA (National Society of RC Aerobatics), NSS (National Soaring Society), PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association), MACA (Miniature Aircraft Combat Association), USPJA (US Pattern Judges Association).
It takes about 300 people to run the Nats—about 100 key people and twice that many helpers. Fortunately this year the talent to run events is available locally. In contrast to the past two years when the local-club Nats area was thin, this year a dozen clubs are available and a number of experienced Nats workers are being brought from other parts of the country to help guide and lead local volunteers. For the first time in several years it looks like we won't be short of personnel to staff events. That will be a major contributing factor toward better Nats operation. Despite having to accommodate contestants, the outlook therefore is that a year bigger and better go together.
What also makes possible better Nats is the availability of two airfields. Free Flight events separated from Control Line and RC activity allow greater freedom for model launching and retrieval. Free Flight events in Springfield will be sharing an airfield; RC Soaring activity and events are very compatible and will be sharing three of the five days if the schedule is crowded. Meanwhile RC Pattern and Pylon events will be sharing Wright Air Force Base with Control Line and Scale events.
Late Entry Information
Advance entry by mail offers the biggest savings. The basic fee is refundable if you don't show, but the Nats' best bet is to enter in advance if possible. Most Nats contestants will have entered by the advance-entry postmark deadline, July 1. This year late entries will also be permitted at the contest site for almost the entire Nats period. The primary requisite for late entries is that they be accomplished before model processing for the event concerned, in accordance with the Nats entry form and schedule. RC entries must be in no later than the hour before the end of transmitter processing for the particular event. The full schedule of event flying, Scale turn-in deadlines, and RC transmitter-processing times is printed on the Official Nats Entry Form and Instructions.
1976 Nats
NSS (National Soaring Society), PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association), MACA (Miniature Aircraft Combat Association), USPJA (U.S. Pattern Judges Association).
It takes about 300 people to run a Nats; about 100 key people and twice that many helpers. Fortunately this year most of the talent to run events is available locally. In contrast to the past two years when there was only one local club in the Nats area, this year there are more than a dozen clubs available. Even so there will be a number of experienced Nats workers brought in from other parts of the country, to help guide and lead the local volunteers.
For the first time in several years it looks like there won't be a shortage of personnel to staff events. This will be a major contributing factor toward a better Nats operation despite having to accommodate more contestants than ever. The outlook, therefore, is that for this year bigger and better go together.
What also makes possible a better Nats is the availability of two airfields. With most Free Flight events separated from all Control Line and most RC activity, a greater freedom of model launching and retrieval is possible. While Free Flight events at Springfield will be sharing the airfield with RC Soaring activity, the events are very compatible. And the sharing will be for only three out of five days, so it's not a crowded situation at all.
Meanwhile, RC Pattern and Pylon events will be sharing Wright Air Force Base with Control Line and Scale events.
Anyone who thinks he might enter should obtain the 1976 Nats entry form which also includes much other useful information; available upon request from AMA HQ, 815 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Please include a stamped pre-addressed envelope. The AMA HQ offices at both Wright and Springfield airports will be open for registration and late entry, from August 1 through August 7, basically 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm each day.
Late Basic Entry Fee for Junior and Seniors is $5 (same as advance fee, and includes entry in three events) and $35 for Open members (no events included). Event fees for late entries, or for events added at the Nats by advance entrants, are $5 per event for all age categories except RC, which are $10 per event.
Mechanics Fee, advance or late, is $3; provides identification and field access privileges equivalent to contestants. Available to AMA members only. A Nats-only membership is included in the $3 fee for members of a contestant's family.
Nats Housing. University dormitories are available for three groups: males only, couples, and families. For individuals and couples, the rate is $7 per person per night, double occupancy. Children who do not occupy a bed (but use a sleeping bag, for example) will not be charged. No family suites are available. Dormitory housing arrangements are made through AMA either in advance by mail or in person at the Nats.
Campsites for tents and trailers are available for a flat rate of $10 for the week per site. Pay at the Nats. The camp area includes portable toilets but no water or electricity to individual sites.
Nats Meetings. The regular AMA general membership meeting as provided in the AMA bylaws is scheduled to be held at the Nats on Wednesday, August 4, at 6:30 pm; all members are invited.
The Nominating Committee, open only to AMA vice-presidents or their appointed delegates, will meet on Wednesday, August 4, at 8 pm. The beginning of this meeting signals the closing time for AMA officer nominations (President and Vice-Presidents for Districts II, IV, VI, VIII and X for the 1977-78 term). See the May "AMA News" section of Model Aviation for the nomination form and write to AMA HQ for nomination procedures. A brand new Nats activity this year will be three days of SAM Championships. SAM means the Society of Antique Modelers and this year their "Old-Timers" National Championships will be held in conjunction with AMA's. SAM's meet will actually kick off the Nats on Sat., July 31, through Monday, Aug. 2. The SAM fliers will be able to participate in the AMA Nats the rest of the week. This added attraction will boost Nats participation and provide a great show for the non-antiquers at Dayton.
Another factor encouraging more participation is the scheduling of more events than ever before. There will be sixty-one separate official AMA events: nine Indoor, 18 Outdoor Free Flight, 11 Radio Control, 23 Control Line. That's three more than in '75. Note, too, that most of these events will also include separate awards for Juniors (under 15) and Seniors (15 through 18). Over 600 awards will actually be provided (an average of about one for each three contestants!).
Besides the official AMA events there will also be many unofficial events. The latter will not appear on the Nats entry form but they will be an important attraction. They add an extra dimension to the Nats, to assure that something will be happening for practically all interest levels. Thus, as usual, there will be an RC Helicopter event, various special Indoor events (Navy Scale, Manhattan Cabin), a 1/2A CL Stunt event, various Free Flight events (Rubber Speed, Class D Gas, Electric Power, even a Thompson Trophy Scale event). This year there will also be a Snoopy Doghouse RC contest, the first time ever. Note: last year's unofficial Indoor Pennyplane and Peanut Scale events are official this year.
With two airfields dividing so much Nats activity it might seem that those participating at one site might miss what is going on at the other. Not necessarily. The sites are not that far apart, less than a half-hour drive. Also, some of the activities at Springfield begin earlier—6 am—and end earlier—4:30 pm—as compared with Wright which will typically operate from 8 am to dark. It is possible, therefore, to go from site to site fairly easily.
To help minimize any problem of one site being easier to operate from than the other, college dormitories for lodging are available at both locations—the first time a dual dorm situation has been provided. Thus those who will be spending most of their time at Wright can choose to stay at the University of Dayton, while those who will be mostly at Springfield can stay at nearby Wittenberg College. The cost is the same at both—$7 per night, per person, two to a room. And this year, in contrast to the last two, bed linens will be provided—so no need to lug along sheets or pillowcases (but bring your own towels). Both dorm locations are within a few miles of the site: typically 15 minutes away by car.
One of the biggest side attractions this year will be the Air Force Museum. This fantastic facility is on one of the Nats sites—Wright Air Force Base. Nats contestants and spectators will actually be able to walk from the competition areas to the museum—it's that close (about a half mile from the RC site, less from the Control Line area).
1976 Nats
Everything is shaping up to make this Nats something special. It is being unofficially billed as AMA's Big Bicentennial Blast. This is largely because it is being included as a part of the Dayton-Springfield area's special bicentennial program of events honoring aviation history—due to Dayton being the birthplace and workshop of the Wright Brothers.
In addition, AMA recognition has been given to this Nats as the 50th. There is some justifiable confusion about that, but it only adds to the interest. Last year's Nats, for example, was listed as the 44th. But some recent research has indicated that the list did not include some contests of the twenties. Although some argument persists about what constitutes a "true" Nats, in terms of how many contestants from how far away, AMA's Executive Council (board of directors) voted last year to recognize the 1976 Nats as the 50th, based on the first model meet officially sanctioned in 1923 by the National Aeronautic Association.
Going to the Nats?—Read the Fine Print!
If you wait until you get there it may be too late!
The annual event known as the National Model Airplane Championships is the world's biggest model meet, enjoyed by many hundreds. But there are always some who end up unhappy. In most cases the unhappiness was caused by not taking the time to read available information as to how the events operate and why.
The official entry form is part of the problem. It is complex and full of fine print, so that the natural tendency is to set it aside for later—or maybe never! Yet all that fine print has evolved over the years as a necessary evil, in order to help bring order to what adds up to a lot of complex information.
Unfortunately, as with so many things these days, the entry form and information has become complicated because a few people cause problems by ignoring common sense and fairness concerning the rights and privileges of others. Consequently it has become necessary to impose tight deadlines, restrict some activities, and make all kinds of special rules that normally are not needed at other model meets.
Much of the detail is necessary simply because of the numbers of people involved: typically over 2,000 (counting contestants, helpers, relatives and friends). There are obvious communications problems when dealing with so many especially when they are dispersed over a huge airfield most of the time. And when an event runs for a week, there are many problems involving what is happening from day to day and location to location.
All this is to say that the National Meet, also known as the Nats, is a very complicated operation. But it is mostly a very orderly and enjoyable experience for those who make the effort to be informed. The Nats entry form offers a wealth of information, and particular attention is called here to some details of that information which have been overlooked or ignored by some—to their eventual disappointment.
Some people, for example, simply show up at the Nats and expect to be able to participate as contestants regardless of arrival time. Most, however, have learned that advance entry by mail is far easier and significantly cheaper. Others depend upon so-called "late entry" at the Nats, even though they know this is far more expensive. But the saddest situation involves the person who doesn't realize that there are deadlines, varying from event to event, when late entry is possible—and then only until the cutoff time that day.
Cutoff times have been experimented with from year to year, but none of the variations have ever made much difference. At best someone always shows up a few minutes too late! The deadlines are made as late as practical while still manageable. But the cutoff time is sharp. It has to be that way because experience over many years has shown that no matter what was picked, some people tend to wait until the last minute, with considerable disruption to headquarters operations and much overtime work.
This year a special attempt has been made to make requirements easier on contestants, but careful reading of the Nats entry form is still necessary to avoid surprise and possible disappointment. The Nats, which has gotten to be the world's biggest model meet, is manageable only by tight planning and time demands upon all participants. Those in the know don't have problems and enjoy the Nats thoroughly. Those who don't bother to become informed are often disappointed. Disappointment is avoidable and unnecessary—read the fine print! Aeronautic Association (of which AMA is the aeromodeling division).
Regardless of that controversy, there's no doubt about 1976 being AMA's fortieth anniversary, resulting from an organizational meeting at the 1936 Nats.
So, no matter what years are involved the stage is set for the 1976 Nats to be the biggest and best ever. All it needs, beyond what is already being done, is the participation of as many AMA members as possible. More details are available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope, marked Nats Entry Form, to AMA HQ, 815 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
Money-saving hint: Late entry fees are high. Avoid this cost by entering the Nats by mail before the July 1 deadline, rather than waiting to do it at the Nats site. If you don't make it to the Nats your basic entry fee will be refunded. So, enter in advance by mail—the savings are significant.
The "Nats" is short for the National Model Airplane Championships. To upgrade the image of model aviation from the general public concept of papercovered rubber-band-powered toys the words "Miniature Aircraft" have been substituted. Either way this annual week long event is the world's biggest model meet.
The Nats is AMA's annual convention. Any AMA member can participate, along with friends or relatives, so the Nats has become a great family affair; for many the big annual vacation event of their lives. There's no discrimination or qualification—the only requirement is payment of the entry fee so novices can rub shoulders or share flight lines with experts. That's what makes the Nats so great: the opportunity for any member to be side-by-side with the famous.
The Nats is above all a unique experience. No matter what happens it is also a special event to remember. Some say it's like love—when it's good it's great and even when it's bad it's still pretty good!
What to See and Do in Ohio Besides the Nats
A veteran Nats competitor suggested more depth coverage of the Nationals prior to the event. We thought it was a good idea. So for those who will be attending the '76 Nats (and even those who can't make it), here's a feeling for the Dayton-Springfield-Columbus, Ohio, area, what the Nats will be like, and what to see and do outside of the Nationals itself.
Wright Field is about 5 miles from the heart of downtown Dayton with Springfield Airport northeast of Wright near Husted, Ohio, off U.S. Highway 68 just south of the City of Springfield. The Indoor events will be in the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in the heart of Columbus less than 80 miles from Dayton and 43 miles from Springfield (see map).
For families who'd like to see some of the sights outside the Nats, there's plenty to do. In Columbus you can enjoy the Ohio Historical Museum just north of the Indoor site, a railway museum, parks and other attractions.
See in Ohio
Near Springfield are Buck Creek Park and John Bryan State Park offering scenic camping, fishing, nature study and hiking trails. The Madonna of the Trail, a monument to Westward-bound pioneers, stands just outside Springfield. Clifton Mill, America's largest water-powered grist mill, is located on the Little Miami River, 8 miles south of Springfield on State Route 72. Golf, dinner theatre, industrial tours and other attractions are all available in or near Springfield.
In Dayton, the Convention Center with its Aviation Hall of Fame and mosaic tile First Flight mural is an attraction in itself, along with the nearby Oregon Historic District—a 12 square block area of restored early 19th century homes and shops. Art and natural history museums are open to the public as is the Benjamin Wegerzyn Garden Center with botanical gardens and greenhouses along with the Cox Arboretum. Deeds Carillon is on Rt. 25 south with concerts on Sunday evenings. In Carillon Park, museum building and historical exhibits are open Tuesday through Saturday. The Aullwood Audubon Farm and Center, operated by the National Audubon Society as a working farm designed especially for youngsters, is open Tuesday through Saturday and an Audubon wildlife sanctuary is open for all to enjoy Monday through Saturday.
For most, the aviation points of interest near Dayton will be the primary diversion including the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum at Wapakoneta, Ohio, off I-75 north with exhibits ranging from the Wright Model B aero-boat to Gemini VIII spacecraft. Huffman Field where the Wright Brothers conducted many successful flight experiments is just north of the Huffman Dam and can be seen from the Wright Memorial. The Memorial is northeast of Dayton on Route 444 and is dedicated to the Wrights' contributions to flight, listing 119 names of early flyers who trained with the Brothers.
Woodland Cemetery on Woodland Avenue in Dayton contains the graves of both Wilbur and Orville Wright. The home where Orville lived for 34 years—Hawthorn Hill—is at Hartman and Park Avenue in Dayton. The magnificent house was built especially for the Wright Brothers and may be viewed from without. Various pieces of furniture from Hawthorn Hill plus photographs, artifacts and an original 4-cycle Model B engine from the Brothers' second flyer are on display at the Kettering Moraine Museum, 35 Moraine Circle South. At Carillon Park on South Patterson Boulevard are a restored 1905 Wright Flyer, a replica of the Wright Cycle Company and a replica of the Wrights' wind tunnel, along with the camera that recorded the first powered flight. The actual bicycle shop was at 1127 West Third Street in Dayton; a marker on the north side of Third Street shows the exact location.
Special Attraction
The most outstanding attraction for most will be the United States Air Force Museum on Springfield Pike at Wright Field—the same field where the Nats RC Pattern, Pylon, Control Line and Scale events will be flown. Dedicated in September 1971, this six million dollar structure is Ohio's largest free tourist attraction. On display are approximately 130 aircraft and missiles, including the XB-70 super- sonic bomber, World War I and II fighters, plus three presidential planes. The museum is open 9 to 5, Monday through Friday; 10 to 6, Saturday and Sunday.
This is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. In addition to the 130 aircraft and missiles are aeronautical items spanning the period from Kitty Hawk to the present. Admission is free; no pets are permitted.
Photography is encouraged in the museum although flash equipment will be required for most interior pictures. Free movies are shown in the theater on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. A gift shop, operated by the Air Force Museum Foundation, sells aviation-oriented items, with profits used to assist the Air Force Museum. A Coffee Shop is available for refreshments, and limited picnic tables are available during summer months (but such lunches are not permitted in the museum building). All exhibits and displays are well identified to permit touring without guides.
Research facilities at the museum consist of selected documents, photographs, and aircraft drawings related to the Air Force Museum program. These historical materials are available for research purposes on weekdays only, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and documents may be copied at a nominal fee.
Should your family become saturated with aeronautical pursuits, numerous amusement parks offer varied entertainment. Kings Island is off I-71 just north of Cincinnati and contains 1600 "fun-filled acres." LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park is on State Rt. 4 off I-75 south of Middletown, Ohio. Cedar Point on Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio, offers rides, wild animal acts and 3-D wrap-around motion pictures while Sea World on Rt. 43 off Ohio Turnpike Exit 13 provides aquatic exhibits and shows of all sorts.
There's something for everyone near the 1976 Nats sites; for further information you may write: Office of Travel & Tourism, Box 1001, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 East Main Street, Springfield, Ohio 45501. Dayton Development Council, 1940 Winters Bank Tower, Dayton, Ohio 45402. R. E. Baughman, Information Officer, Air Force Museum, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433.
It's just PR talk; solid reasons for expecting AMA's annual extravaganza to top previous attendance records. Here's simple: two out of three AMA members live within 600 miles of the 1976 sites — Chicago, Philadelphia. Nats past years are always largest when the Nats are roughly halfway between two large population centers; a large turnout from both areas is probable, especially since it has been three years since the last Chicago-area Nats and seven years since the Philadelphia area hosted. Furthermore, the Canadian Nats on the West Coast last year drew a large contingent from the Maple Leaf country; most Canadian modelers are East.
Meanwhile, modelers are able to travel more than ever. AMA's membership growth typifies a trend among adults ever since the living-mobile society of drivers and campers developed; it's natural to expect the Nats will get a proportionate share of the tremendous boom aeromodeling has been enjoying the past few years. This does not mean a good answer that this year will be bigger; the Nats should also be better. The Nats, due to size and attention, bring modeling interest and present a big problem in putting the Nats operation together: the need to accommodate different, often conflicting activities. The amount of attention usually given provides differing needs. In reality, the Nats are a combination of separate contests with separate crews — a physical necessity in order to have events going once and also what makes possible running good events: specialists can be used. Thus RC Pylon enthusiasts operate Pylon events; CL Speed specialists run Speed events. Actually, Control Line events have five separate crews: Speed, Racing, Combat, Aerobatics, Carrier. Likewise, three RC crews — Pattern, Pylon, Soaring — and separate Indoor and Outdoor Free Flight crews. Scale specialists take care of Scale events. Free Flight, Control Line and Radio Control each have their own requirements.
This year, more than ever before, AMA has sought help and advice from special interest organizations in basic planning through actual event operation. In many cases these organizations have been tremendously helpful: NFFS, National Free Flight Society; NMPRA, National Miniature Pylon Racing Association; NSRCA, National Society RC Aerobatics; NSS, National Soaring Society; PAMPA, Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association; MACA, Miniature Aircraft Combat Association; USPJA, US Pattern Judges Association.
It takes about 300 people to run the Nats, about 100 key people plus twice as many helpers. Fortunately this year the talent to run events is available locally. In contrast to past years when local clubs near the Nats area were few, this year a dozen clubs are available and will supply many experienced Nats workers brought in from other parts of the country to help guide and lead local volunteers. For the first time in several years it looks like there won't be a shortage of personnel. The staff of events will be a major contributing factor toward better Nats operation. Despite having to accommodate more contestants than ever, the outlook is that this year will be both bigger and better.
What also makes possible better Nats is the availability of two airfields. Free Flight events separated from Control Line and RC activity give greater freedom for model launching and retrieval. Free Flight events at Springfield will share an airfield with RC Soaring activity; these events are very compatible and will share three out of five days without creating a crowded situation. Meanwhile, RC Pattern and Pylon events will share Wright Air Force Base with Control Line and Scale events.
Late Entry Information
Advance entry mail savings are big. Basic fee refundable if you don't show — Nats' best bet — but if you don't have a choice here's what late entry is about. Most Nats contestants already will have entered by advance entry postmark deadline July 1. However, late entries will also be permitted at the contest site for almost the entire Nats period. The primary requisite for events entered late is that late entries be accomplished before model processing for the event concerned in accordance with the Nats entry form schedule. RC entries must be made no later than one hour before the end of transmitter processing for the particular event. Full schedule of event flying plus Scale turn-in deadlines and RC transmitter processing times are printed on the Official Nats Entry Form and Instructions.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
