2026 RC Pylon Racing - Introduction | National Aeromodeling Championships

Three men standing on grass with a model airplane.

If I may introduce myself, I’m holding my Proud Bird ARF with Bernie Vanderleest (left) and Jim Nikodem (right). These are two of the gentlemen who brought me along during my first couple of seasons pylon racing.

By Tim Lampe

My name is Tim Lampe and I have been asked to write the 2026 edition of NatsNews for RC Pylon Racing. I started pylon racing in 2013 and I’ve been all-in since then, though many have been racing for double, triple or quadruple that time and have contributed much more to pylon racing. I will be competing in events 426 (Super Sport Quickie 500) and 422 (Quarter 40) and will do my best to eke out the daily articles between test flying, wrenching on planes, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a shower. Though my events don’t begin until Tuesday, July 7, I arrived on site Friday, the 3rd to help with processing and to call for my teammate, Trey Witte.

Two people preparing model airplanes under a tent. — On location, here is Randy Bridge (left) and Adam Grimm as usual, working harder and earlier than most.

NatsNews is written for people who are not able to attend the Nats, and the intention is to keep readers updated on the scores and involved in the competition and activities. There will be a total of eight editions of Nats News; one for each day of competition, plus this opening report.

Open field under a cloudy blue sky with a parked white SUV. — An ominous sky, but this is the weather that already passed.

Below is the remaining schedule for the week’s events:

7/4 – Saturday

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Processing all classes

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 424 Competition, Fly-offs, Trophies

7/5 – Sunday

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Processing 426/422

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – EF1 Competition, Fly-offs, Trophies

7/6 - Monday

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 422 Processing

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 426 Competition Day 1

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Banquet

7/7 - Tuesday

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - 422 Final Processing Opportunity

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - 426 Competition Day 2, Fly-offs, Trophies

7/8 - Wednesday

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - AMA 100 Year Celebration

1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - World Cup 422 Competition Begins

7/9 - Thursday

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 422 Competition

7/10 - Friday

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - 422 World Cup Competition, Fly-offs, Trophies, and Super-Finals

Wednesday through Friday is scheduled for Q40 (422) competition. You’ll notice the designation “World Cup.” This year, the Q40 competition will count for world points on the FAI circuit. I’m not exactly clear yet how this will work, but I’ll learn more and pass this on in an upcoming NatsNews, so stay tuned for that.

A group of people sitting in folding chairs under a canopy, conversing and relaxing. — The calm before the storm. “The guys” solving the world’s problems, enjoying the peaceful evening.

You’ll also notice that competition isn’t scheduled to begin until 11:00 a.m. each day. This is an unusually late start as typically, we begin at 8:00 a.m. But the reason is to prevent errors from the pylon judges caused by not being able to identify the colored stickers on the wings due to the low sun in the morning. Test flying is to be allowed before the day’s racing begins, and the poker chip system will be used to determine the flight order.

Man preparing a model airplane on an airfield. — Trey Witte prepares to get a test flight on his QStang Quickie 500 pylon racer.

I arrived on site this evening, Friday, July 3 at around 6:30 p.m. I was a bit concerned because, approximately 20 minutes out, I came through horrendous thunderstorms. But by the time I arrived to the AMA site, all was calm and the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees. However, it is now past 9:00 in the evening and the humidity is already starting to climb. It is also beginning to cool a bit.

Man with helmet watches small model aircraft fly over an airfield. — Ray Brown looking for any unwanted roll during hard elevator pulls on knife edge.

As I was told, there was plenty of test flying going on this afternoon, and there was more testing after I arrived this evening and the storm passed. At a Nats, test flying is at a premium due to the number of classes and participants. Practice was not regulated today, but from tomorrow on they will probably use the poker chip system to keep order and assure everyone gets an equal chance. The racing occurs until late afternoon, so pilots prep and test fly in the evening to prepare for the next day’s racing. As I look to the north, there is plenty of cloud accumulation, so we’ll see what the evening brings. Otherwise, the forecast is typical for what we get in Muncie in July; warm and humid.

Two people watch a small plane flying vertically in a clear sky. — Dean Stone bringing his Quickie 500 around pylons 2 and 3 during a test flight.

In closing, there wasn’t much going on today, other than competitors beginning to arrive and get set up, and some processing and initial test flights when the weather cooperated.

Two men walking on a runway, holding a model airplane with orange and checkered wings. — Dean Stone and Trey Witte consulting after a test flight.

Golf carts on a paved road, people standing nearby, sunny day. — The usual gaggle on the flight line waiting their turn. Opportunities for test flying must be taken advantage of.

Two people smiling, holding colorful model airplanes at an airfield. — Father and son Augie and Mitchell Haupt getting ready for their test flights. Here’s a link to a write-up on Mitchell from some time ago:

https://amafoundation.modelaircraft.org/posts/13-year-old-pilot-seeks-the-thrills-of-racing

Two men kneel to assemble a red model plane on pavement. — Trey and Dean prepping for another test flight of another Q500.

Two people adjust a red and white model airplane on the ground. — Mitchell and Augie getting the engine started.

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2026 RC Pylon Racing - Introduction

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