Outdoor FF

The 101st AMA Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Nats wrapped up with the final day of official flying on Friday, July 26. The weather remained excellent for flying with mostly sunny skies, high temperatures in the low 80s, and winds ranging from 4-8 mph.

The 2024 AMA Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Nats began at sunrise on Thursday, with Dawn Unlimited and the F1B flyoff. The day was jam-packed with exciting flying and high-entry events.

Today was the third official day of flying at the 2024 AMA Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Nats, and numerous popular events were featured, including E-36, Catapult Glider, B Gas, and F1B.

The Bernard Mulvihill Trophy originated in 1923 and is the oldest continuously awarded aviation trophy in the US. Regardless of age, the trophy goes to the high time-scorer in the AMA Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Nats Mulvihill event.

The AMA Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Nats have officially entered their centennial era, as 2024 marks the 101st AMA Nats. The attendance for this year’s Nats is significant, as 121 contestants have preregistered.

By Don DeLoach

Friday, July 21, was the final day of 2023 Free Flight (FF) Nats competition. The forecast called for partly cloudy skies and light winds. Instead, we got served an unseasonably cool morning, clouds for almost the entire day, and steady winds of 5-10 mph from the northwest. It wasn’t unflyable, but it was more challenging than expected. Here’s why.

A mixed bag of weather … that’s what we had Thursday at the Free Flight (FF) Nats.

Spectacular. Stupendous. Perfect. Wednesday’s weather at the Nats was that good, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

What an outstanding day for Free Flight (FF)!

Monday was the first day of official flying at the centennial Free Flight (FF) Nats. It’s hard to believe that 100 years have passed since the very first NAA Nationals, which predated the existence of the AMA by a full 13 years. Back in 1924, model aircraft competition was still a very new concept, often held at full-scale air shows and air races.