51st National Model Airplane Championships
A LOT HAS happened to the National Model Airplane Championships since it was last held in California in 1967. The 10-year span saw the last of the Navy-hosted "Nats" (in 1972, at Glenview, Illinois) and many subsequent changes. These were found to be necessary as the directing organization, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, evolved new developments to make up for the lack of military subsidy.
One of the most significant changes to be seen this year will be the almost complete operation by Californian officials of the AMA. While most Nats tend to be dominated by officials from the local area, the 1977 event will be more so than before. At the 1967 Nats there were many officials brought in by Navy airlift, but this doesn't exist anymore. Aside from a comparatively few out-of-state officials from AMA's National Executive Committee, most of the rest will be from the West Coast.
Noticeable, too, compared with 1967, will be the lack of military uniforms involved in the meet. Although the Nats is again being held at a military installation (March Air Force Base instead of the previous Los Alamitos Naval Air Station) no military personnel will be involved, except for traffic control. In contrast to 1967 when close to 200 military people helped out as timers, judges, scorers, and processors, an all-volunteer civilian crew of AMA modelers will be involved.
It will also be a bigger Nats, with over 60 competition events, compared with the 36 of 1967. There will be many more trophies awarded—over 600. But there will be no competition for the title of champion.
This long-standing feature in which a comparatively small number of contestants flew many events for Individual, Category, Club and Team Championships has been eliminated because it has been too great an advantage to those who entered numerous events.
51st National Model Airplane Championships
Another big change from 1967 will be the use of a separate site for Free Flight events. Since the loss of Navy airfields to the Nats scene, it has become increasingly difficult to find locations which can accommodate Free Flight activities. It used to be possible because the Navy would shut down full-scale aircraft operations for a week. But this is no longer possible. March Air Force Base, our host this year, is an active Strategic Air Command airfield which must continue its military mission while the Nats goes on. It's only because March is big enough to accommodate most of our activities without interference that a Nats is possible there.
However, Free Flight activity was almost always compromised at the Nats when held at a military airfield. There simply was never enough room so that chasing models beyond the airfield boundaries was typical. But this year, if current negotiations continue successfully, Free Flighters may have the biggest site ever — a huge valley area about 12 miles east of the air base. The Free Flighters' dream of five-minute max flights should finally be possible at this site. At press time the outlook for availability of this site was hopeful, with help from the Riverside Chambers of Commerce a key factor. The land is privately owned by several people. Negotiations were complex but optimistic.
General location diagram for 1977 National Contest: 1. Nats site at March AFB; 2. Proposed FF/RC Soaring site; 3. Indoor site, Norton AFB; 4. Dormitories at University of California; 5. Motel row. Scale of diagram: 1" = 5 miles.
At the same location RC Soaring events are scheduled. The intent is to avoid interference from other RC events so the sailplanes can enjoy complete freedom of their own competition schedule — in contrast to the Pattern, Pylon and Scale fliers who will have to share the March site. RC Soaring will be new to the California Nats — the event did not exist in 1967 competition.
RC Pattern and Pylon fliers will operate in shifts — Pattern in the morning, Pylon in the afternoon. RC Scale will be flown during the final weekend.
All Control Line events will also be at March — lots of concrete available for circles, plus just enough grass for Combat. In addition to the usual Nats CL events there will also be special events on the opening weekend to select Team Race and Speed teams for the 1978 world championships. These special events will help warm up Nats personnel for the big week to follow.
In regard to warmth the 1977 Nats are expected to be Hot! August temperatures are typically very high although humidity is not. Lots of sun tan oil is recommended, as well as wide-brimmed hats and portable sun shelters. But erecting the latter on the concrete expanses of March Air Force Base may be a problem since the use of tent pegs will be impractical — 2 x 4 wood frames to hold tent anchor ropes may be the only way to go. A word to the wise... forewarned is forearmed.
Two previous Calif. Nats problems may be less troublesome this year. Previously, afternoon winds made Free Flight flying rough, so it was a case of fly early or not at all. But the further inland location for Free Flight at March Air Force Base may permit flying. Also, hopefully smog may not be a problem this year due to the inland location.
OFFICIAL SCHEDULE, 1977 NATIONALS
Free Flight. Outdoor events 7 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on dates noted otherwise; near March AFB. Indoor events at Norton AFB.
*Obtain location information at March AFB.*
Notes: 1 — 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; 2 — 2 p.m.–9 p.m.; 3 — 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Control Line: 7:30 a.m.–noon and 1 p.m.–5 p.m., unless noted otherwise, at March AFB.
Radio Control: 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Powered events at March AFB; 1:30–8 p.m. Soaring events at FF site. Soaring 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Notes: 4 — 7:30–noon; 5 — 1 p.m.–5 p.m.; 6 — 7 p.m.–9 p.m.
AMA Nats HQ (Office Hours)
- 8 a.m.–noon
- 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
- 7 p.m.–9 p.m.
(These hours shown for each day of the Nationals.)
Late Entry and Add Events to be accomplished during office hours shown at AMA Nats HQ, March Air Force Base, except for Indoor events, no later than the following:
- Indoor (other than Scale) — by noon, at each day.
- Control Line — by 5 p.m. on the day before event is to be flown.
- Free Flight Outdoor — by 5 p.m. on the day before events are flown.
- Radio Control — Radio Control Events Information (Processing & Frequency Verification).
Scale — by 10 a.m. Sunday, August 7 at Indoor site for Indoor AMA Scale and Indoor Peanut Scale; by 9 a.m. Monday for FF Outdoor Rubber; by 9 a.m. Tuesday for FF Outdoor Gas; CL AMA Scale, CL Sport Scale, RC and AMA Scale, by 9 a.m. Thursday for RC Sport Scale; by 11 a.m. Thursday for RC Soaring Scale; by 9 a.m. Friday for FF Outdoor Peanut Scale. March Air Force Base is about eight miles southeast of Riverside, California and about 50 miles east of Los Angeles (with Disneyland about halfway in between). Riverside has a large complex of motels and also the official Nats dormitories which are being provided by the University of California at Riverside.
About 15 miles northeast of Riverside is Norton Air Force Base, where the indoor events will be held on the opening weekend (August 6–7). With at least 60 feet clear air until overhead lights are encountered, the site will also have a higher center area up to about 90 feet — assuming that a couple of rows of lights can be raised, as is currently planned.
Many people have made the 1977 Nats possible in California. Besides the AMA Executive Council and Nats Executive Committee, a large contingent of California AMA members is involved. Use of March Air Force Base was made possible by agreement of the Riverside chapter of the Air Force Association to host the event, in conjunction with the Riverside Chambers of Commerce, including the Visitor and Convention Bureau. The Riverside Chambers of Commerce have been
National Championships
particularly helpful, handling many details of promotion, food concessions, clean-up, hospitality and contract negotiations. Without these enthusiastic local supporters the Nats would not have been possible in the Riverside area.
This in itself is in dramatic contrast to 1967 and earlier years in California. Back then local support was all Navy oriented. This year, however, it's a truly joint civilian and Air Force operation, with strong emphasis on support from the local community.
The Chambers of Commerce have a slogan: "The Happy Side is Riverside." It's a good one that we heartily recommend to anyone considering going to the Nats this year. The welcome mat is out.
Nats Entry/Meeting Information
Advance Entry (by mail) savings are big, and the Basic Fee is refundable if you don't show at the Nats, so this is the best bet—but if you don't have any choice here's what Late Entry is all about.
Most Nats contestants already will have entered by the advance entry postmarked deadline of July 11, but late entries will also be permitted at the contest site during the Nats period. The primary requisite for all events is that late entries be accomplished before various stages of preflight processing for the events concerned, in accordance with the Nats entry form schedule and, for RC, no later than one hour before the end of transmitter processing for a particular event.
The full schedule of event flying, plus Scale turn-in deadlines and RC transmitter processing times, is printed in the Official Nats Entry Form Instructions. Anyone who thinks he might enter should obtain the 1977 Nats entry form which also includes information on AMA HQ, 815 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Please include a stamped pre-addressed envelope. The AMA HQ offices at March Air Force Base will be open for registration and late entry, from August 7, basically 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm each day; also by noon each day at the Indoor site.
Late Basic Entry Fee for Juniors and Seniors is $5 (same as advance fee, and includes entry in three events) and $35 for Open entry (no events included). Event fees for late entrants, 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.
Nats Meetings. The regular AMA general membership meeting as provided in the AMA by-laws is scheduled to be held at the Nats on Wednesday, August 10, at 6:30 p.m.; all members are invited.
The Nominating Committee, open only to AMA vice-presidents or their appointed delegates, will meet on Wednesday, August 10, at 6 p.m. The beginning of this meeting signals the closing time for AMA officer nominations (President and Vice-Presidents for Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 for the 1978-79 term). See the May '77 "AMA News" section of Model Aviation magazine (page 66) or write to AMA HQ for nomination procedures.
NEW NATS POLICY FOR JUNIORS & SENIORS
Awards will be provided to at least three places in every Nats event, regardless of placing. This means that even where age groups are combined, Junior and Senior age group contestants will get awards. For example, in an event where all three age groups are combined (such as FAI events), if the Open members take the first five places for which trophies are normally awarded, the three highest placing Juniors and the three highest placing Seniors will also get awards. Similarly, where Juniors and Seniors are combined in an event, if the Seniors take all the first five places, awards will be given to the three best Juniors regardless of where they place.
This new policy was approved by the AMA Executive Council at its April 16 meeting, as a means of encouraging youngsters to compete at the Nats. It is in addition to the standing policy which gives Juniors and Seniors free entry to three Nats events upon payment of only the basic fee. Thus, while Open contestants have to pay a $15 basic fee, plus $5 per event ($7 per RC event), Juniors pay only a $5 basic fee and no event fees unless they enter more than three events. The same is true for Seniors whose basic fee is $10.
Juniors and Seniors should know, too, that there is no late entry penalty fee as there is for Open entrants. The latter have to pay $35 for late entry (after July 11) whereas the fee stays the same for Juniors and Seniors no matter when they enter.
There are over 30 events at the 1977 Nats which can be entered by Juniors or Seniors. With the special policies for these age groups, this year's Nats can be a happier experience for youngsters. To find out more ask for a free Nats entry form—send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to AMA, 815 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. I examined the scanned page you provided. This page does not contain any visible continuation of the article titled "51st National Model Airplane Championships." Instead, the page shows:
- A continuation header and text for a different article, "FF Duration/Meuser (continued from page 42)," in the left column.
- A large full-page advertisement for the "GloBee Stinger" (Fusite).
- Some small map/diagram and schedule fragments that appear to be part of the Nationals material but are embedded in or obscured by the advertisement and are not legible enough to transcribe reliably.
Because the continuation of the "51st National Model Airplane Championships" is not present or is illegible on this scanned page, I cannot extract or correct that article text from this image. Please provide a different scan (the previous page or a clearer image of this page showing the Nationals continuation), and I will extract and correct the article text as requested.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
