OPEN/PRACTICE FLYING UNTIL OFFICIAL COMPETITION FLYING IS OVER. QUESTIONS? PLEASE REPORT TO THE WHITE FARM HOUSE. THANK YOU, MANAGEMENT

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1 Muncie IN Rantoul IL years July 25 Free Flight Soaring CL Stunt NO OPEN/PRACTICE FLYING UNTIL OFFICIAL COMPETITION FLYING IS OVER. QUESTIONS? PLEASE REPORT TO THE WHITE FARM HOUSE. THANK YOU, MANAGEMENT Duncan Hunter with a huge electric Satellite. The model was a showstopper. Photo from Nats 2015.

2 FREE FLIGHT It s hard to believe that 2016 marks the 90th running of the AMA Nationals. Here we go again! Free Flight stalwarts will mix it up in 70 (whew!) events this week, over five days and across five rule sets: AMA, National Free Flight Society (NFFS), Society of Antique Modelers (SAM), Flying Aces Club (FAC), and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Most FF events are contested on pure flight duration usually a total of three flights plus flyoffs to break ties. Competitors aim for a flight duration maximum ( max ), which is based on the wind conditions and the size of the field. For FF events at the Muncie Nats, the standard max is two minutes. When a competitor attains three maxes in a row, he or she proceeds to attempt flyoff flights, which get progressively longer and more difficult to attain. In FAI (F1A, F1B, etc.) events, the max is usually longer (three or more minutes) and the number of regular flights preceding the flyoffs is either five or seven. Also, FAI competition is flown in one-hour rounds, whereas AMA, NFFS, SAM, and FAC events do not use rounds. Central to FF competition is a crucial choice: the best possible time to launch. Unlike RC or CL, FF models receive no guidance once released. Launch into rising air and FF aircraft are happy. Launch into sinking air, and the model usually has a poor chance of scoring the max. Text and photos by Don DeLoach FAI events usually feature the most technically advanced models. AMA events are the next most technical. NFFS events are medium-tech. FAC and SAM events are for low-tech, balsa and tissue models. FAC features the only scale events for FF; some are judged statically for fidelity to full-scale. This year s FF Event Director is Ed Carroll of Riverside, California. Ed is a seasoned Free Flighter, with many decades of experience running contests, so this should go very smoothly. I welcome all to the 2016 Nationals for FF competition. We have a full schedule of events which include FAI models, both large and mini, all of the traditional gas, rubber, and glider events, as well as Classic and Nostalgia gas events. I remember with great fondness my first Nats in 1963 at Los Alamitos, California. To my great joy, I won Senior F1C. I have attended many Nats; all had tremendous support of many volunteers. The current Nats is no exception. Please treat them well, fly well, and be safe. Ed Carroll, Event Director After today, I m handing over the reins of NatsNews duties to Bill Kuhl, who volunteered to help us out on a very short notice. Take some time to show him your models and tell him your stories. George Bredehoft was the proud winner of Peanut Scale and the Walt Mooney Memorial Trophy. Nats Jace Pivonka had overall high time in HLG in This year, he will miss the Nats to attend the Junior World Championships in Macedonia. Nats Here s 2016 FF Event Director Ed Carroll retrieving his F1C aircraft a few years ago in California. Don DeLoach photo. Dale Elder swept the AMA Electric events (E-36, A and B) in Can he do it again in 2016? Nats 2015.

3 At the 2015 Free Flight Nationals, the following individual champions were crowned: EVENT FIRST SECOND THIRD D Gas (8 flew) Ronnie Thompson, Alabama, 1350 Charles Caton, Alabama, 876 Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 722 AB Classic Gas (22) Dan Berry, Arkansas, 1305 Bob Ma es, Missouri, 1198 Denny Dock, Michigan, 1164 Payload (7) Dan Berry, Arkansas, 312 Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 298 Denny Dock, Michigan, 275 Moffe Rubber (19) Bill Vanderbeek, Calif., 1440 Robert Marier, Georgia, 1381 Paul Crowley, Michigan, 1367 F1Q (11) Marty Richardson, Mich., 1744 Jack Murphy, Utah, 1655 Jim Coffin, Virginia, 1572 F1A SO (10) Mike McKeever, Calif., 1985 Oliver Cai, Connec cut, 1932 Ken Bauer, California, /2A Nostalgia Gas Bob Sowder, Virginia, 720 Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 600 Larry Davidson, Virginia, 597 OT.020 Replica (10) Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 572 Bill Schlarb, Indiana, 435 Gil Morris, Ohio, 353 OT HLG Kyle Gerspacher, Ohio, 120 Jim Lewis, South Dakota, 116 John Wilson, Georgia, 109 Small Mulvihill (8) Robert Marier, Georgia, 1083 Jim Ferwerda, Wisocnsin, 540 Jim Coffin, Virginia, 522 Beat the Vartanian Dave Edmonson, Minnesota Randal Kryostek Dick Peterson, California Mulvihill Jr (3) Kyle Gerspacher, Ohio, 448 Hailey Ma son, Ohio, 302 Will Reuter, Ohio, 122 Mulvihill Sr (1) John Wilson, Georgia, 414 Mulvihill O (23) John Shailor, Michigan, 2640 Joe Williams, Pennsylvania, 1620 Ed Hardin, Tennessee, 1537 C Gas (8) Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 900 Jim DeMerri e, Florida, 740 Dick Covalt, Indiana, 737 F1C (5) Faust Parker, Texas, 1260 Gil Morris, Ohio, 1222 Dick Mathis, Louisiana, 900 ROW Gas (4) Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 293 Dan Berry, Arkansas, 183 Bob Stalick, Oregon, 166 F1H SO (5) Ken Bauer, California, 780 Kyle Jones, Ohio, 768 Bob Sifleet, Pennsylvania, 697 B Electric (18) Dale Elder, Florida, 1299 R.J. Ivers, Massachuse s,1068 Ralph Ray, California, 912 A Nostalgia Gas (22) Roy Smith, Canada, 960 Bob Sowder, Virginia, 806 Dave Edmonson, Minn., 768 OT Catapult Gl. (24) Tim Ba uk, California, 577 Dick Peterson, California, 332 Stan Buddenbohm, Calif., 315 Jetex (7) Chris Matsuno, Missouri, 241 Marty Richardson, Mich., 182 John Oliver, Indiana, 161 OT Rub. Fuselage (5) Jim O Reilly, Kansas, 360 Ed Sneed, Ohio, 358 Grant Carson, Texas, 358 ROW Rubber (3) John Diebolt, S. Carolina, 257 Chris an Fox, Vermont, 63 Thomas Fox, Vermont, 4 ROW Hydrostar (4) Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 297 Bill Vanderbeek, California, 218 Bob Stalick, Oregon, Design Combo (17) Glenn Schneider, California, 840 Jim Bocckinfuso, Virginia, 657 Hank Sperzel, Nebraska, 600 B Gas (11) Charles Caton, Alabama, 1200 R. Thompson, Alabama, 1048 Jim Parker, Texas, 741 1/2A Classic Gas Jr. (2) Hayden Ashworth, Indiana, 312 Jazmyn Oakins, 260 1/2A Classic Gas O (10) Dan Berry, Arkansas, 714 Jim Bocckinfuso, Virginia, 682 Gerald Brown, Texas, 676 Cargo (3) Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 1890 Bob Stalick, Oregon, 1731 Bill Reuter, Ohio, 501 Catapult Glider Jr. (10) Wya Riddle, Ohio, 145 Kyle Gerspacher, Ohio, 140 Will Reuter, Ohio, 104 Catapult Glider SO (21) Stan Buddenbohm, Calif., 600 Kurt Krempetz, Illinois, 418 Ken Bauer, California, 345 F1B (18) Sevak Malkhasyan, Calif., 1497 Carroll Allen, New York, 1494 John Shailor, 1435 F1J Junior (1) Jazmyn Oakins, Wisconson, 268 F1J Open (8) Faust Parker, Texas, 797 John Lorbiecki, Wisconsin, 762 Glenn Schneider, Calif., 542 E-36 (26) Dale Edler, Florida, 793 Jim Jennings, Tennessee, 744 Dan Berry, Arkansas, 684 B Nostalgia Gas (13) Larry Davidson, Virginia, 840 Denny Dock, Michigan, 792 Gene Smith, Oklahoma, 720 Sm. Nostalgia Rub. (16) J. Williams, Pennsylvania, 780 Ed Hardin, Tennessee, 540 Don DeLoach, Colorado, 529 O.T. ABC Cabin (4) Bud Romak, California, 600 Bill Vanderbeek, California, 326 Bob Edelstein, Michigan, 312 FAC Jimmie Allen (21) Don DeLoach, Colorado, Skokie Ed Hardin, Tennessee, Skokie Robert Marier, Georgia, BA Parasol FAC Dime Scale (14) Don DeLoach, Colorado, Beech Mike Welshans, Michigan, Beech David Mills, Georgia, Cessna FAC OT Rub. S ck (18) Larry Coslick, Missouri, Casano Ted Allebone, Mich. Double Feat. Winn Moore, Michigan, Gollywock FAC Low Wing Trainer (5) Don DeLoach, Colorado, DH.94 Pat Murray, Indiana, BP Balloil Gene Smith, Oklahoma, Arado A Gas (13) Doug Marsh, Indiana, 861 Charlie Caton, Alabama, 843 Ronnie Thompson, Alabama, 701 Dawn Unlimited (8) Jace Pivonka, Colorado, 269 Bud Romak, California, 252 Aram Schlosberg, N.Y., 245 HLG Junior (6) Kyle Gerspacher, Ohio, 263 Ian Wicks, Illinois, 87 William Reuter, Ohio, 74 HLG Senior (3) Jace Pivonka, Colorado, 568 Taron Malkhasyan, Calif., 332 Sevak Malkhasyan, California, 311 HLG Open (22) Stan Buddenbohm, California, 556 Jim Buxton, Ohio, 422 Ken Bauer, California, 352

4 F1P SO (1) Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 523 F1G Junior (1) Hailey Ma son, Ohio, 15 F1G SO (16) Mike Richardson, Nevada, 811 John Clapp, Pennsylvania, 776 Chris Matsuno, Missouri, 766 C Nostalgia Gas (14) Denny Dock, Michigan, 840 Hank Sperzel, Nebraska, 820 Jim DeMeri e, Florida, 810 Old Time ABC Pylon (7) Jim Bockinfuso, Virginia, 701 Bud Romak, California, 360 Bob Edelstein, Michigan, 341 Tornado/Jay s Bird (5) Gene Smith, Oklahoma, 544 Rudy Kluiber, Ohio, 480 Bill Vanderbeek, California, 300 Large Nostalgia Rubber (7) Jim O Reilly, Kansas, 498 Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 482 Joe Williams, Pennsylvania, 454 FAC Old Time Fuselage (24) Ted Allebone, Mich, 39 Champ Jim Gerszewski, Wisconsin, Wren George Bredeho, Mich. Pacific Ace Jr. FAC Embryo Endurance (17) Ted Allebone, Michigan, Debut Winn Moore, Michigan, Debut D. DeLoach, Colorado, Embryoma c FAC Golden Age Scale (9) Gene Smith, Oklahoma, Corben Mike Welshans, Michigan, Gadfly Don DeLoach, Colorado, DH-94 FAC Greve Race (9) Gene Smith, Oklahoma, Caudron W. Moore, Mich., Mr. Smoothie C. Powell, Kansas, Chambermaid FAC WWII Combat (9) Don DeLoach, Colorado, F4U Winn Moore, Michigan, K-10 G. Bredeho, Michigan, Barracuda CD Classic Gas (6) Bob Ma es, Missouri, 750 Dan Berry, Arkansas, 683 Dick Covalt, Indiana, 478 P-30 Junior (4) Hailey Ma son, Ohio, 326 Kyle Gerspacher, Ohio, 320 William Wicks, Illinois, 126 P-30 Senior (1) John Wilson, Georgia, 108 P-30 Open (20) Don DeLoach, Colorado, 900 Dave Sechrist, Indiana, 832 Paul Masterman, Calif., 601 1/2A Junior (4) Hayden Ashworth, Indiana, 308 Jazmyn Oakins, Wisconsin, 228 Bill Reuter, Ohio, 175 1/2A Senior (4) Zach Seymour, Ohio, 454 1/2A Open (12) Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 600 Gil Morris, Ohio, 549 Faust Parker, Texas, 468 A Electric (13) Dale Elder, Florida, 681 Duncan McBride, Florida, 557 Jack Murphy, Utah, 401 1/4A Nostalgia Gas (10) Roy Smith, Canada, 345 Denny Dock, Michigan, 335 Bob Hanford, Oklahoma, 286 Early 1/2A Nostalgia (9) Bob Sowder, Virginia, 333 Glenn Schneider, California, 305 Larry Davidson, Virginia, 296 Super D Gas (2) Charles Caton, Alabama, 357 Jack Marsh, Indinana, 247 Old Time Rubber S ck (15) Jim O Reilly, Kansas, 917 Larry Coslick, Missouri, 780 John Schnobrich, Illinois, 502 Classic Towline (15) Ken Bauer, California, 624 Dave Edmonson, Minn., 495 Stan Buddenbohm, Calif., 438 Pee Wee 30 (4) Bob Stalick, Oregon, 1745 Alan Abriss, New York, 1232 Jim Kelly, Virginia, 1010 ABC E-Nostalgia (1) Dave Lacey, Virginia, 347 FAC Rubber Scale (11) Mike Welshans, Michigan, Gadfly Pat Murray, Indiana, Beriev George Bredeho, Mich., R-2 FAC Peanut Scale (14) George Bredeho, Mich., Pegna Mike Welshans, Michigan, Waco P. Murray, Ind., Midget Must. FAC WWI Combat (4) Don DeLoach, Colorado, Bristol Pat Murray, Indiana, D.VII Ted Allebone, Michigan, D.VII FAC Thompson M.L. (3) Don DeLoach, Colorado, CR-2 Winn Moore, Michigan, DGA-6 Pat Murray, Indiana, DGA-6 Bud Romak s massive Dawn Patrol Dawn Unlimited model is reflecting the sunrise. Nats 2015.

5 SOARING Photos by Rachelle Haughn

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8 CL STUNT ends The Top 5 flyoff and the the Junior and Senior competitions were contested on Saturday, July 23. Where we had experienced lots of sun, heat, and variable wind throughout the week, this day dawned overcast and dead-calm with less heat. These conditions held up until the end of round one. The sun and the heat eventually returned, but the calm conditions were to remain throughout the three rounds of flying, and that caused some wake turbulence problems for the fliers. With our 2016 World F2B FAI team, David Fitzgerald, Orestes Hernandez, and Paul Walker all of who are World Champions along with Derek Barry, a Junior FAI F2B World Champion, and Kaz Minato, one of Japan s top fliers, in the Top 5, it was obvious that the flying quality would be at an all-time high. And it was, with very little to separate the scores. All five fliers were on their games, and only the aforementioned wake turbulence factor threw a curve into the equation. The judges were hard-pressed to pick a clear winner, but in the end it was David Fitzgerald who flew the cleanest flights to capture his ninth Open CL Stunt National Championship! There were two Junior competitors this time. Ben Mills showed tremendous improvement over last year, and he flew two full-pattern flights to capture the win over Will Dirks, who is Bill Text and photos by Bob Hunt Rutherford s grandson. Will seems to have the desire to improve, and he ll be back next year flying the full pattern, I m sure. In Senior we had only one competitor, but she s a good one! Samantha Sami Hines continues to improve each year, and this year she flew a beautiful Banshee that she built entirely by herself. In the Walker Trophy Flyoff, Dave Fitzgerald was victorious, with Sami Hines in second, and Ben Mills in third. Our thanks go out to Dennis Adamisin, the CL Aerobatics event director, his assistant director, Curt Nixon, and their group of judges, tabulators, runners, and pit bosses. They made the week go by without a hitch. Here are the men who brought the CL Stunt portion of the Nats together successfully. That s Dennis Adamisin at left, the event director, and the assistant event director, Curt Nixon, at right. Kudos guys for a great job! Here are the Open Top 5 judges: L-R are Dan Banjock, Doug Patterson, Wes Eakin, Joan Cox, Mark Overmier, and Steve Smith. Joan hails from Canada! Below: Chris Cox gives Paul Walker s Predator a perfect launch. Paul, a 12-time Nats Stunt Champion, placed second on this occasion.

9 The eventual winner, David Fitzgerald, fuels his ThunderGazer prior to his first official flight in the Top 5 flyoff. Looks confident, doesn t he? Orestes Hernandez prepares his Legacy/Shark for flight, while his friend, Josias Delgado, holds and prepares to launch. Will Dirks took second place in Junior Stunt with his Ringmaster. That s his proud grandfather, Bill Rutherford, posing with him. Our good friend from Japan, Kaz Minato, flew his gorgeous F6F Hellcat to fifth place this year. Kaz s aircraft once gain sat on the front row at the appearance point judging. Here s our new Senior Nats Stunt Champion, Samantha Sami Hines, with her dad and her winning Banshee. Here are the Top 5 pilots and the Junior and Senior winners. In the back row (L-R) are Kaz Minato (fifth), Orestes Hernandez (third), David Fitzgerald (Champion), Paul Walker (second), and Derek Barry (fourth). In the front row (L-R) are Samantha Hines (Senior Champion) and Ben Mills (Junior Champion).

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12 The new Junior Nats Champion is Ben Mills. Ben, who has improved a lot since last year, flew his electric-powered Twister through the full pattern. Academy of Model Aeronautics International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie IN website: natsnews@modelaircraft.org Copyright Academy of Model Aeronautics 2016 Designer: Ashley Rauen; Editor: Rachelle Haughn