![:] Superb pilot and all-around great guy Tom Scully, from KY, flying for Team 2.](https://nats.modelaircraft.org/files/styles/large/public/2024-07/F3RES7_resized.png)
Superb pilot and all-around great guy Tom Scully, from KY, flying for Team 2.
By Mike Bergerson
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.
Soaring junkies come from all over the country to compete in what is easily the most fun event that the RC Soaring Nats can offer. Simple, wooden airplanes designed to give maximum performance are shot up into the wild blue on a regulation hi-start by teams of enthusiastic glider pilots, while teammates run around and shag the lines so that their team’s pilot can relight when he can't find that elusive thermal. It's like watching little kids playing with puppies! Big smiles, big fun!
The weather was just perfect for flying lightweight 2-meter sailplanes. Light wind, if any, and great temperatures made for a really pleasant day of soaring. The thermals, on the other hand, were at times difficult to find—and once found, they were a challenge to stay with. “Feast or famine” describes the day …
A group photo of the pilots and their airplanes was taken first thing in the morning. After three rounds of furious competition in the summer sun, everyone took a lunch break. Before our dedicated—albeit, shanghaied—contest director, Jon Garber, started the next round, we all gathered on the field to give a big “Hey! We miss you!” to our friend, Jeff Carr, who really wanted to make it to the Nats this year but was unable to attend. A great guy, an excellent glider pilot, and a wonderful competition organizer (The MidSouth Championships in North Carolina) … we wish you were here!
After five rounds on Monday, Gordon Buckland, flying his Encanto sailplane, is in the lead, with second and third place less than 20 points behind! Junior competitors Oscar Cytrynowicz and Rowdy Lee are in fifth and thirteenth place, respectively. With one more day to duke it out, we could see a big change in everyone's standings. You just have to contend with that Muncie, Indiana, air! Current standings can be found at the end of this report.
Blue Skies!
Note from AMA: Do you have photos from the Nats that you’d like to share? If so, email them to Clarissa Poston at clarissap@modelaircraft.org. Please include a brief description in your email, naming any individuals pictured in the photo(s), the name of the event that the photo(s) were taken during, and the name of the individual who took the photo(s). Your submission(s) might be posted on AMA’s Flickr page, which can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums!
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