RC Soaring

By Wally Adasczik

Cross-Country Soaring Day 3

Day 3 turned out to be a lot drier from a humidity perspective.

The puffy clouds came early and by 10 a.m., the crew was on the road! As fast as folks flew and landed many were walking up the road as crews came back. The photo below is all of the Cross-Country (XC) contestants—helping Jeff Carr. LOL! Not that he needed it by any means.

By Wally Adasczik

F3K Soaring

F3K started with 28 contestants. Hand Launch is so cool and small thermal flying translates to reading good air when you move up to the larger Unlimited/F5J ships. There were a few world and national champions in the contestant pool! Folks come from all over the US for this event. 

I pulled into the IAC and took a gorgeous picture of the sunrise.

LSF Cross Country Day 2

By Wally Adasczik

What a great day for Cross Country (XC)! The whole Parker City Parks and Recreation department showed up, Mr. Mick Beckman, and hung out with us for a few hours. He was very happy that the Parker City, Indiana, park was being used and asked all sorts of questions. The gang learned that he has been with Parker City Municipal for over 55 years! True dedication there, if I say so. Mick is that handsome lad in the light green shirt in the next photo.

Day 1 of LSF Cross Country and F3H Racing

By Wally Adasczik

The day started off at a new location, the Parker City Municipal Park, in Parker City, Indiana. In years past, the Cross Country crew usually used the Monroe Central school grounds, in Parker City. School starts early here in Indiana, and the school grounds were not open for public use.

The 2020 Outdoor Nats took place July 12-August 5 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. Although the pandemic made for an interesting and complicated year, several events still took place safely, allowing competitors and AMA members to continue to enjoy our hobby.

We have created a photo gallery for this year's event. Please feel free to like, share, download, and print a few!

By Ryan Woebkenberg

F3K wrapped up Wednesday. Five more preliminary rounds were flown followed by a four-round flyoff for the top six finishers. The 14 rounds from yesterday and today were used to determine the contest winner.

A total of 20 pilots competed in the F3K Nats this year. That is down a bit from previous years (likely COVID related) when we typically have about 30 pilots enter. This year, we had four Juniors enter, and two of them made the flyoffs.  F3K 2020 was won by Jason Cole, with second going to Nathan Bartley, and third to Oleg Golovidov.

ALES, or Altitude-Limited Electric Soaring, ran July 28-29 at the 2020 Nats.

First Place: Peter Goldsmith
Second Place: Richard Burnoski
Third Place: Robert Burson

See scores from all 2020 Nats RC Soaring Events at GlideScore.com.

See all 2020 RC Soaring Nats coverage HERE.

By Ryan Woebkenberg

Tuesday was day one for F3K (Hand Launch Soaring). Nineteen pilots were present and flying was conducing using three flight groups.

F3K is the FAI Soaring class for RC hand-launch gliders. The models have a maximum wingspan of 1.5 meters and are typically made mostly from carbon fiber. The gliders are thrown hand, typically by being spun around from a wingtip and release.

By Ryan Woebkenberg

F5J Soaring began on Sunday with the completion of six rounds. Monday we few three more preliminary rounds. Out of nine total flights, each pilot was allowed to drop their worst score.

There was supposed to be a flyoff comprised of the top nine pilots, but the rain showed up about 1 p.m. My daughter and I left for the day, I and I am not sure if the flyoff was able to be completed …

Today is the start of F3K and ALES, which will both run through Wednesday.

By Ryan Woebkenberg

F3Res was a two-day event running Friday and Saturday. The first-place team was John Armstrong and Randy West. In second place is father/son Steven Willcox Jr. and Steven Willcox Sr.

See all 2020 RC Soaring Nats coverage HERE.