With the conclusion of the 2025 AMA/LSF Soaring Nats, I'm left with a feeling of joy! The seasoned attendees and first-timers all had a great time flying with old and new friends. Glider Camp is just awesome!
What could we expect on day three of the Quadfecta, after being shut down by thunderstorms every afternoon? So far, we had four rounds of Unlimited in the books and three rounds complete in each of the other three classes; RES, 2M, and NOS
Gordon Buckland and his Grand Esprit in Nostalgia.
Perhaps the threat of thunderstorms this morning thinned the herd a bit, but they missed out on two completed rounds in each of the Quadfecta classes. There were some great flights made in epic fashion.
The threat of rain and thunderstorms didn't deter any of the pilots registered for the Quadfecta. The winches were strung and the pilots meeting commenced at 8:30.
How much fun is F3L? The pilots couldn’t say how much they loved the past two days enough. My buddy from Massachusetts thanked me for talking him into flying the contest. Newbies at the contest were just beaming, and the pros say this is their favorite contest.
The 2025 AMA F3K Nats was finally on a weekend, after being held during the week for many years. The lineup this year reminded people of the Team Selects in Florida a few months ago.
It is just a beautiful day to fly 2-meter (2M) wooden sailplanes! The sun is out, there’s a light breeze of about 6 mph, and you have 30 pilots divided into seven teams shooting little wooden RES sailplanes into the sky on FAI regulation highstarts.
I am sitting and writing this synopsis, enjoying a beautiful sunset from Site 5 overlooking the AMA headquarters building at the conclusion of day 2 of the 2025 AMA/LSF F5J Nationals.
It was a calm and quiet morning. The birds were chirping and leaves rustled outside of Casa Muncie. I lay in bed (cot) for a few minutes before I realized it wasn’t raining! That means the F5J soaring competition will start on time and everyone will be joyous and happy! There might even be singing… probably not.
Pilots are anxiously awaiting a flight during the ALES Nats.
Cloudy and overcast skies with threatening thunderstorms later in the day didn't deter a single pilot from cruising the skies over Muncie…searching, hoping to embrace and become one with that ever elusive rising air. Spotty lift for the first few rounds opened up into nice conditions until…