2019 RC Scale Nats Recap
The 2019 RC Scale Nats were held July 12-14 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. See all the highlights of this year's event and final results with our NatsNews 2019 RC Scale edition.
The 2019 RC Scale Nats were held July 12-14 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. See all the highlights of this year's event and final results with our NatsNews 2019 RC Scale edition.
The 2019 RC Scale Aerobatic (IMAC) Nats were held July 7-10 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. See all the highlights of this year's event and final results with our NatsNews 2019 IMAC Edition. NatsNews: 2019 IMAC
By Mike Unger (mike97unger@yahoo.com)
Day 2 of the RC Helicopter Nats finished without any issues … well I guess I can’t say that. The weather made things fun.
After a heat index approaching 100° on Sunday, pilots were greeted in the morning with 60° temperatures and scattered showers on Monday. Sam Corlett, the guy from Texas who was commenting that the hot weather on Sunday was comfortable, wore insulated coveralls all day Monday. Like they say, if you don’t like the weather in Muncie, just wait, it will change.
By Matt Neumann (mrstuka@cinergymetro.net)
Saturday the fliers woke up to hazy skies and light wind. It was a welcome change from the day before.
By Phil Cartier
Fast Combat has been growing slowly at the Nats the last few years. This year saw 10 fliers competing. Most of the action has moved to F2D, mainly from the chance at getting on a US World Cup team and the ease of buying and shipping top-performing models at a fairly reasonable cost.
By Matt Neumann (mrstuka@cinergymetro.net)
Gray skies, nothing but gray skies … at least for most of the morning.
Friday is traditionally called top 20 day. It is the day that the top 20 from the Open skill class flyoff to find the top five who will move on to Saturday’s event. It is also the day that, in this case, the top 16 from the Advanced class flyoff to find out who will be crowned the Advanced Class National Champion.
By Phil Cartier
1/2A Combat is a bit like swatting mosquitoes. The planes are small (proportional to Fast Combat aircraft), have very tight turning, and are difficult to see. It’s hard on spectators, buts great fun for the pilots. The planes are scaled down and look like Fast Combat aircraft to the pilots. They just pull a lot less—a couple of pounds instead of 12 to 15 or more. The aircraft are cheaper too.
By Phil Cartier
Speed Limit Combat keeps the speed below 75 mph. A total of 21 fliers turned out, including some who generally don't travel extensively except for the Nats. This year brought out a more-limited range of engines. The list included Fora 15, LA and FP, Fox 36, Nelson, LA 40, and probably one that I missed.
By Tim Stone (stone-tim@sbcglobal.net)
The competition wrapped up Thursday with the running of Clown Race and Sport Goodyear.
Clown Race rules specify a standard design, the PDQ Clown, a 50-plus-year-old design currently kitted by Brodak Manufacturing and PDK. Any engine can be used, up to a .19 displacement. Engine preference has become RC car conversions and FAI combat motors. Unlike other racing events, the winner is determined by who has flown the most number of laps in a specified time period.