NatsNews

The forecast was correct. There was a thunderstorm. It just wasn't here! The pilots that woke up expecting rain, thunder and lightning were now rushing to the field.

So here we are…the day 60 registered pilots have been waiting for. It is the US F5J team selects. The top three pilots will compete in World F5J competition scheduled for August of 2027 here at the AMA headquarters flying site.

The 2026 Free Flight Nats got underway Monday, July 20 amid warm temperatures, light and variable winds, and hazy skies which affected visibility on flight timing.

Today was a complete flip from the previous day's conditions. The uppers were moving out of the east at a pretty good clip, but you could fly a standard-weight ship (40 to 45 ounces) and penetrate well.

The first round was a battle to find any form of lift in the breezy early-morning conditions. “Muncie Madness” was in full dress.

No rain! It was not as hot and steamy, but we did have some fog and smoke haze. We set up the winch and retriever and had somewhat decent visibility by 10 a.m.

Day 2 of Cross Country Soaring: No rain, the heat index was hot as… well, you know.

Day 3 of the 2026 IMAC Nationals is officially in the books, and it was another full day of great flying and fellowship. Today's flying schedule included two rounds of Freestyle, one Unknown round, and one Known round.

No rain! 100-degree heat index. Thermals are kicking off, but it's hard to get above 800 feet. It’s very strange, but still better than a good day at work! Let's go flying!