Nats 2026

Saturday started off with F2D combat. It was incredibly hot!  There were twenty entries, consisting of most of the finest pilots flying in the USA. We flew a triple-elimination event and had a huge amount of fun despite the heat.

I know there have been plenty of knockdown, drag out, blood-for-blood battles in RC pylon racing, and I’ve been in this for over ten years now. But by far, the closest, hardest-fought, toughest battle I’ve ever witnessed unfolded today in round 4.

AMA Class I Mouse Race is arguably the simplest of all the book racing events. Only reed-valve .049 engines are allowed and all contestants used versions of the Cox Black Widow .049. There are no engine restrictions.

The Saturday before the Navy Carrier events were scheduled to start, the gentleman that was scheduled to be the event director had a family emergency that prevented him from attending the 2026 AMA Nationals

We wrapped up Day 2 of speed flying four more events. Things went a lot faster today!

Today we had no official flying. Instead, today was a practice day during the morning and evening while the afternoon had the appearance point scoring as the pilots’ meeting.

Now hold on a second. You mean to tell me that a virtual rookie who has been flying pylon for only a few years can come out here and win EF1 at the Nats? Well, that’s exactly what Chris Martin did this afternoon.

By Tim Lampe

Well alrighty you glider guiders, here we go again! “Glider Camp” aka “The Academy of Model Aeronautics/ League of Silent Flight (AMA/LSF) Soaring Nationals,” organized by our absolute favorite Nationals event director, Wally “By Golly!” Adasczik, is set to begin with Cross Country.

Monday, July 6 is the official start of the Control Line Navy Carrier events. The Navy Carrier events came about when the Nationals were sponsored by the US Navy and people wanted a Navy-themed event.