LSF

Day two of F3K is in the books, and we have a new National Champion. Mengchen Li won the title, followed by Joe Dougherty and Contest Director (CD) Mickey Nowell on the podium.

What an exhilarating start to the 2024 AMA F3K Nats! After nearly two years away from F3K contests due to a shoulder injury, it feels fantastic to be back in the game.

A kinder, gentler Nats. Ahhhhh. The start of Altitude Limited Electric Soaring (ALES) went smoothly for Conest Director Norm Poti. If there were issues, they weren't noticed by those enjoying their first day of ALES.

With the conclusion of the winched and bungee-launched events, the 2024 AMA RC Soaring Nats opens up for Altitude Limited Electric Soaring (ALES).

F3RES at the 2024 AMA RC Soaring Nats has concluded. The five-man teams have dispersed, and their exploits have all been recorded, certified, and placed into the history books for all to see many, many generations from now.

The bungees were singing when 29 pilots showed up at Site 5 of AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center for two days of F3RES competition at the AMA Soaring Nats.

What has a 2-meter wingspan, is 99% wood, and gets shot into the sky on a big rubber band? If you said a glockenspiel, you might be correct, as I have no idea what the specs are … of course, it's an F3RES sailplane!

There be winches here! The Quadfecta, a competition consisting of four classes of sailplanes, began at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, July 20, and flew through Sunday afternoon, July 21. The weather was perfect!

Charles Thomas, Contest Director Wally Adasczik, and Bob Burson setting up the winch lines Friday afternoon for the weekend’s Quadfecta competition.

By Mike Bergerson

The weather gods have granted mercy! What a beautiful day to fly gliders. There were quite a few flights made from the winch, and just as many were electric flights.