Event

The Control Line Navy Carrier events started on Tuesday morning. The weather, especially the wind, can play a factor in the outcome the events. This year, the winds were light and variable and from the same direction all day.

Welcome back Control Line Racing fans. This morning started out in perfect weather with AMA event 312 Slow Rat racing. We had four teams this year which made for two heats.

On Tuesday, the third day of Control Line Speed, we flew three events, A Speed, FAI/F2A peed and Fox 35 Stunt Speed. There were five contestants in A Speed and F2A Speed, and there were 13 planes entered in Fox 35 Speed.

Contestants were greeted by clear skies, light winds and cool temperatures. Sunscreen was one of the words of the day. In the past few days, you could get away with not much sunscreen. Today was just the opposite. It probably was a good idea to reapply it every couple of hours or so, just to make sure.

I know there have been plenty of knockdown, drag out, blood-for-blood battles in RC pylon racing, and I’ve been in this for over ten years now. But by far, the closest, hardest-fought, toughest battle I’ve ever witnessed unfolded today in round 4.

AMA Class I Mouse Race is arguably the simplest of all the book racing events. Only reed-valve .049 engines are allowed and all contestants used versions of the Cox Black Widow .049. There are no engine restrictions.

The Saturday before the Navy Carrier events were scheduled to start, the gentleman that was scheduled to be the event director had a family emergency that prevented him from attending the 2026 AMA Nationals

Today we had no official flying. Instead, today was a practice day during the morning and evening while the afternoon had the appearance point scoring as the pilots’ meeting.

Welcome, control line race fans, to the 100th AMA Nats!

This year is marked with several noteworthy milestones. This is the 250th anniversary of the USA, the 100th AMA Nationals, and my 30th Nationals that I will have competed in.