AMA's National Miniature Aircraft Championships
The "Nats" is short for what used to be known as the National Model Airplane Championships. More recently, in an effort to upgrade the image of model aviation from the general public concept of paper-covered 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, with over 60 competition events, more than 600 trophies, and over a thousand contestants.
The Nats is what amounts to 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 the experts. That's what makes the Nats so great; the opportunity for any member to be side-by-side with their more famous heroes.
It has been this way for many years. Ever since World War II, military support was involved and this made it relatively easy for AMA to operate this huge undertaking. That is now changed since recent austere military budgets prevented continuance of such support. So AMA has been going it alone the last two years except for some model industry sponsorship which has covered about 10% of the costs.
The 1975 Nats may be the final test to determine whether AMA can operate the annual event in the same general manner as the Nats of many years past. When the U.S. Navy ended 25 years of support in 1972, AMA assumed the total responsibility for carrying on the Nats program. This meant substituting AMA manpower to replace over 100 Navy personnel, arranging for officials' transportation to replace the Navy's airlift, finding Nats sites equivalent to those provided by naval air stations, and coming up with many thousands of dollars worth of supplies and equipment formerly provided by the Navy.
In 1973, the first year of taking over from the Navy, AMA rented an airfield at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Two key factors were involved. One was to utilize the relatively nearby (Chicago area) source of manpower which had been part of the Navy Nats operations at Glenview, Illinois, from 1970 through 1972. The other was the hope of recovering the cost of airfield rental ($15,000) by charging admission to the public. The first factor was successfully applied—the Chicago area source of manpower reduced the officials' transportation problem considerably. The second factor, however, was not successfully achieved—the income from admission fees was considerably less than necessary to offset the cost of airfield rental. The airfield was too small for some operations and too complicated by the problems resulting from full-scale aircraft flights at the same field. The combination of 1973 problems made it necessary to find another future Nats location.
Thus the 1974 Nats moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Problems were somewhat reversed there: the airfield was available at no charge, large enough, and there was no full-scale aircraft interaction; however, there was no nearby source of Nats manpower. The latter factor caused severe financial problems—the cost of providing transportation assistance for dozens of volunteer officials needed to staff the event was itself a major burden, and income from entry fees and sponsorships was less than anticipated. Although attendance was greater than ever, the Nats were farther from the center of the country than those held in the Dallas/Chicago area. Yet the 1974 Nats was big, with over 1,400 registered, so the location was relatively good in terms of AMA membership participation numbers being enough, under the previous entry fee structure, to offset the cost of transporting officials further away.
A new Nats logo designed by Bob Lopshire will be used in many ways—bumper stickers, posters, and the Nats program book. Because the financial problem also e xists for 1975, the financial problem has been approached from two directions: an increase in entry fees and reduced compensation for officials. Thus everyone will pay more to participate in the Nats, whether to work or fly. But the cost of participation is still being held to the minimum possible for such a great experience.
The Nats should be even better for 1975. Many changes will be seen this year, practically all based on eliminating problems that were part of the 1974 operation. RC Pattern, Pylon, and Scale fliers, for example, should be able to stay out of mud situations since access and pit areas will be on concrete this year—a much improved RC site layout was developed as a result of joint consultations between Nats officials and contestants. And RC Sailplane fliers will have three full days of competition instead of only ten hours, made possible by use of a separate site.
Free Flighters should find it much easier to chase and retrieve models—considerable clearing of trees and brush is currently underway and a new upwind launch site will be available for situations where wind drift is not parallel to the long runway. In general, much more mowed and cleared area is being provided. For Control Line, Combat fliers should be closer to the rest of the Nats action as a new location on the field is planned, near the other Control Line events. And better spectator safety will be provided now that last year's fence project has been completed.
Better field concessions for food and drinks are currently being negotiated to relieve the need for stocking up on such items before coming to the field. This should ease the problem of being out on the field for many hours. Note: the unrestricted access to flying at Lake Charles was a unique experience for most of the 1974 participants—they could literally fly from dawn to dusk, in contrast to the typical 8 to 5 situation of previous Nats. The same is true for '75.
Breakfasts will be an easier experience for 1975. This year the college cafeteria will be open in the morning, so there will be less crowding of the few 24-hour restaurants in the area—less time will need to be allowed in the morning for the many (almost 700 last year) who were lodged at the university dormitories. And night life at the Nats will be enhanced this year since the university will be the central gathering place for those staying at the dorms or in area motels. This will be brought about by opening of a huge student lounge area next to the cafeteria, right in the middle of the dormitory complex. Snacks and soft drinks will be available in this lounge area. Lots of space and comfortable seating for small clusters or large groups. The lack of this kind of gathering point for evenings was sorely missed during the '74 Nats, so this new arrangement should help the togetherness and fun for '75.
More motel space is available for '75. A new Days Inn is now open, near the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, just north of the airfield. And a new Rodeway Inn is available (expected to be the headquarters and lodging place for RC Sailplane participants), just to the west of Lake Charles at Sulphur, Louisiana. Added at the Sheraton Motel this year is a new 24-hour restaurant called the Cajun Kitchen. In general, the motel situation in Lake Charles is excellent—besides those already named there are the usual well known places such as Holiday Inn, Downtowner, Ramada Inn, Quality Inn, and a number of independents. For those interested in more complete motel information, a request to AMA Headquarters will get the latest list.
The Indoor event schedule has been simplified for '75. All official Indoor events will be flown at the Lake Charles Civic Center, only three miles from the Nats airfield. This excellent site was rated superior by many Indoor contestants last year, due to a better ceiling structure, than the Goodyear hangar at Houston. Some fliers who flew at both sites got better performances at Lake Charles, with its 55-foot flat ceiling, than at Houston with its narrower domed girder ceiling almost twice as high. This use of one site instead of two also avoids a conflicting schedule with outdoor events.
New for most outdoor FAI Free Flight events this year will be flying by rounds; similar to World Championships schedules. Included will be a mid-afternoon break to test the current thinking that flying during maximum thermal conditions should be minimized. This has produced a flight schedule for these events that means starting early and finishing late, compared to other events. The afternoon break will also permit flying in other events.
Radio Control Pylon and Pattern will be utilizing a two-shift schedule arrangement; Pylon from 8 am to 2 pm and Pattern from 2 to 8 pm. The shift arrangement helps overcome some of last year's problems. Pattern fliers need not be delayed by early morning low ceiling fog which prevents seeing the model at the tops of maneuvers, nor will they and the judges be bothered by early morning sun in their eyes. Pylon fliers, on the other hand, are not similarly bothered by these conditions and they won't have to wait for Pattern fliers to finish up before they can start, as has happened in some past years. Soaring fliers will also not have to worry about being delayed by the finish of an earlier event—they will be at their own exclusive site. And they will have ten winches available to keep the flying going without interruption due to launching problems.
RC fliers will also enjoy improvements at the Lake Area Radio Kontrol Society's practice field. Since 1974 the LARKS have re-conditioned their clubhouse, installed refreshment facilities and bathrooms, set up worktables in the pit area and even have a hobby shop right on the site. This is one of the country's outstanding club fields, and a concrete runway!
A new Nats logo designed by Bob Lopshire will be used in many ways—bumper stickers, posters, and the Nats program book.
In general 1975 Nats contestants will find themselves more welcome than ever. Nats posters will be all over town and local citizens will have bumper stickers that say "Welcome Back, Y'all!" That's the message this year, and it is backed by many special efforts to make this a most memorable Nats. Plan for it now, whether to fly or spectate. Get the full details by sending a stamped and addressed envelope to AMA HQ for the '75 Nats Entry Form and Information. Send now to: AMA, 806 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
Money-saving hint: Late entry fees are higher than ever this year. Avoid this costly mistake: enter 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.
In the meantime plan your vacation for Lake Charles with a side trip to New Orleans or to NASA at Houston, depending upon what direction you're coming from. This will be the 44th Nats; they began in 1923. It's still the greatest model aviation experience ever. Some say it's like love—when it's good it's great, when it's bad it's still pretty good!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
