AMA Nats Lincoln '79
It began like 1974, with a gas shortage expected to hold down the number of contestants. Again a new Nats site was involved, without any past history to serve as a gauge, but Lincoln, Nebraska, had greater potential than did Lake Charles, Louisiana, simply based on the number of AMA members within a day's drive. As in 1974, however, the gas scare influenced many people to stay home, even though those who made the trip found no problem getting gas en route.
The '79 Nats had just under a thousand contestants and mechanics, and over 300 officials, so Lincoln had a good-sized Nats. It was also a pretty happy event, with generally good (though very hot) weather a big factor — one day of only slight rain and another with high winds.
Most days were fine, leading to many records for Free Flight and a new Control Line speed record of over 200 mph. Except for the last Free Flight day, most models did not fly far enough to get into the dreaded (but distant) corn, and many contestants spoke well of the FF site, even though it was not flat and smooth. They seemed to enjoy the freedom of the site — no interference from other events and no hassles about use of motor bikes or walkie-talkies.
RC Pattern had a unique problem initially but it was quickly resolved. Contestants were flying way farther out than normal, actually getting close to the active commercial and military jet runway. A huddle between AMA and FAA officials resulted in a meeting with contestants to lay down the law — anyone flying too far out would be disqualified. After that there were no more flagrant overflights and the FAA praised the officials for prompt and effective solving of the problem.
The far-out flying was a psychological thing. Contestants were flying on a huge concrete area with about 600 feet between them and the grass that separated the concrete from the runway. It appeared that, perhaps subconsciously, contestants were trying to fly over the grass much as they would when flying from a normal runway. Once it was shown how far away the grass was, most contestants were able to keep all operations over the concrete. Although some grumbled about being restricted and some zeros were given out for not staying in the approved area, most fliers found they had enough room. No doubt the situation added to normal Nats nervousness for fliers but it also helped separate those who could cope from those who couldn't.
The headquarters operation at this year's Nats used the smallest building ever. We were lucky to have it. Just two weeks before, the airfield firemen had moved out of their old firehouse into a new one nearby. The old firehouse, therefore, became available and AMA was able to rent it instead of going to a less satisfactory contingency plan involving tents and trailers.
Without the typical headquarters hangar of most previous Nats, operations were squeezed tightly as far as accommodating models was concerned. Scale models just barely fit into a 30 by 50 foot space. Formula I RC pylon models had to be judged outside (luckily the weather was good), and CL (Control Line) aerobatic models had to be judged in a former Air Force gymnasium building currently being used as a school and recreation center.
There were many compliments about the good food available at the Lincoln airport part of the Nats, countered by some complaints that the concessionaire closed down too early. In general, though, the food concession operation was highly regarded. At the Free Flight site the situation was more spartan. No food concessionaire could be persuaded to service the remote location, so AMA rented a van and bought sandwiches, ice and soft drinks from the Lincoln concessionaire, and utilized volunteers from the local Lincoln Sky Knights club to handle the operation each day. AMA lost money on the FF concession but the operation solved a potentially serious problem which could have resulted in many complaints from hot and hungry free flighters.
The other remote Nats location was at a sod farm used for RC soaring and helicopters. Another food concessionaire handled that one satisfactorily. Meanwhile, the site was fine and the weather good except for the last day, which was spoiled by high winds. New soaring winches purchased by AMA were highly praised by contestants and a generally good contest prevailed.
The RC helicopter operation this year was free of the squabbles that marred last year's event, but there weren't many contestants. A consensus of concerned officials suggests that unless the event is better supported next year it should be dropped from the Nationals. It is noted, by contrast, that several other helicopter meets in various parts of the country typically have many more contestants.
The 1979 Nats owes its existence to an exceptional AMA club. The Lincoln Sky Knights, headed by their president Glen Lau, did a superb job of making the original offer which resulted in the Nats coming to Lincoln; then they followed up with the most outstanding job of local support yet seen at a Nats.
For the week before the Nats, all during the Nats, and for two days afterward, the Sky Knights turned out at least 20 top-notch workers, plus more occasionally. They did everything imaginable: they unloaded the AMA Nats trailer on arrival and loaded it up again after the Nats, they put up signs and miles of fences, repaired and assembled Nats gear, emptied trash barrels every day, swept up, served as security guards, hauled Nats gear back and forth to events, did dozens of miscellaneous jobs to keep all events operating (including hauling ice and putting up tents). Some worked in specific events as timers, scorers, transmitter impounders, flag men, etc. A few even got to fly in the Nats!
The Sky Knights honor roll is listed elsewhere in this article. They are a fantastic group and deserve the thanks of all '79 Nats participants. Appropriately, they had been presented AMA's Award of Excellence just before the Nats, and wore their patches proudly all during Nats week. On behalf of all AMA officials, this is to pay public tribute and say thank you. Thanks — any other group will have a tough time topping the effort of the Lincoln Sky Knights.
Another outstanding job of support was turned in by local control liners. Under the leadership of CL Category Director Vince Mankowski (also AMA District IX Vice-President), the relatively few but highly capable local control line people took many of the top CL jobs and did an outstanding job despite being new to the Nats operation.
A little sidelight deserves special thanks. The Nats trailer, which contains all the special equipment needed for this affair, moves around the country by rail. At each Nats location it requires people to obtain a tractor to haul the trailer from the rail yard to the Nats site. This year the effort was coordinated by AMA member Dave Reiber (who also ran the CL Speed events) of E. O. Peters, Inc. The Lincoln-based Peters company provided the tractor and volunteer drivers Chick Vorhees and Nick Klein.
The Nats trailer now sits, reloaded and ready, in a remote corner of Lincoln airport. It will stay there, courtesy of the airport management, until we know where the next Nats will be. Current indications suggest strongly that Wilmington, Ohio (about halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati) will be the 1980 Nats site.
Dick Nutting and Chuck Shade, both of Ohio, presented the basics of the Wilmington possibility to the AMA Executive Council at the Lincoln Nats. They got approval to proceed during the next 90 days to negotiate details of the Wilmington location, with the expectation that an official announcement can be made before the end of 1979.
Meanwhile the '79 Nats is history. Helping to preserve the record of what happened there is this year's collection of Nats News, the special daily Nats newspaper produced on site. This year it took three new volunteers to produce what Les Hard, the country's top newsletter editor, used to do by himself. Les, of the CARDS club of Michigan, was editor for the past five years but couldn't make it this time. So the local team of Linda Mankowski, John Nollendorf, and Don Tremain offered their services and did an outstanding job, especially in the area of photos.
This year's Nats at Lincoln had special significance. It was an important test of AMA's ability to stage a Nats at an operational commercial and military airport, without interference. If the concept was successful it could open up new Nats site possibilities. Previously, an inactive airfield was needed, or one (very rare) that could be shut down for a week.
At Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1973 — a commercial airfield — and at Riverside, California in 1977 — a military airfield — some elements of the Lincoln operation had been developed. But the 1979 Nats, which involved a much busier airfield, was involved with both types of air traffic. The Lincoln operation, after some first-day bugs, quickly shook down to a safe routine and even produced a very favorable letter from the chief of the regional FAA office to AMA President Witt:
"The prompt corrective action taken by Mr. Morgan (Nats Contest Director) and you was most appreciated.
I have been particularly impressed with the entire contest. The participants have displayed a most cooperative attitude toward making this a truly great event. I have observed a form of camaraderie and self-discipline that is rarely seen today. That's what makes modeling the great sport it is."
As a result of the Lincoln experience, other airports should become available for the Nats, perhaps ending the annual crisis of where to go with this world's biggest model meet. To those who made this possible, in addition to the Lincoln Sky Knights club, AMA is very grateful.
Special thanks to Rolland Harr, Executive Director of the Lincoln Airport Authority, who didn't say no when approached by AMA concerning the Lincoln Nats; to the Lincoln Airport Authority board of directors, which approved the contract with AMA; and to Judy McDowell, Director of the Convention and Visitors Division of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce — they enthusiastically promoted and supported the Lincoln Nats with the community from the very beginning, including paying the rent for use of the small but excellent Pershing Auditorium indoor site in the heart of downtown.
The University of Nebraska also deserves special thanks. Those who stayed in the dorms rated them the best ever for a Nats — large, comfortable, clean, and staffed with friendly folks to administrate the operation.
The college people were typical of practically everyone in the Lincoln area. Many contestants and officials alike remarked favorably about the friendly spirit encountered everywhere — in stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. They also noted the uniqueness of Lincoln's clean and safe downtown area — a busy and growing heart of city life, in contrast to the decaying and crime-ridden downtowns of many other cities.
Mayor Helen Boosalis, also a strong booster for the Nats, is the dynamic civic leader largely responsible for the positive spirit that characterized all Nats negotiations. Her attitude helped make things happen and the end result is that AMA has been invited back for a future Lincoln Nats a few years hence. If the airfield is still available then and the Sky Knights are still willing, we will return. It was a great Nats. Those who didn't come should have — most of those who came were happy they did. History will score a big plus for this one.
THE HONOR ROLL
LINCOLN SKY KNIGHTS — 1979 NATS HOST CLUB
- Bob Bates
- Russ Bowen
- Bill Bowlin
- Darrel Burnett
- Jerry Carlson
- Carlos Cartagena
- George Chisholm
- Pete Crow
- Ira Dolich
- Dick Dodds
- Ricky Faulkner
- Ron Frame
- Phil Holman
- Marty Ivins
- Bill Johnston
- Bob Jorda
- Glen Lau
- Terry Majewski
- Darrel Mason
- Don Mason
- Bob Creager
- Joe Mock
- Joe Mock, Jr.
- Don Neill
- Clarence Nelson
- J. R. Nollendorf
- Will Raucher
- Lawrence Reger
- Gary Riecke
- Les Smith
- Don Svoboda
- Ray Taylor
- Don Tremain
- Bob Willey
- Allen Worrell
- Mike Yearley
- Mike Ritony
- Del Phillips
- Tom Boyd
- Sally Bates
- Elba Lau
- Al Graves
- Steve Green
In addition, this is to thank the families of those listed for allowing so many hours to be devoted to the Nats.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
