Joseph Szczur participated in the National Model Airplane Championships held in Muncie, Indiana on 21-24 July 2014 hosted by the Academy of Model Aeronautics. With over a hundred pilots total, there were a forty one pilots competing in the FAI competition category, four which were in the Junior FAI category (under 18 years or younger) including the 2013 Junior world champion from South Africa. Finishing 14th place, Joseph was the highest placing Junior pilot, qualifying him as U.S. team member along with the top three placing Open (18 years or older) competitors to compete in the 2015 World Championships in Switzerland.
Joseph flew a 2-meter wingspan model called the “Black Magic” designed by Mike Hester. The plane weighed 5kg (11 lbs.) and was powered by a YS supercharged 1.75 cubic inch glow fuel motor with Cool Power 20% nitro-methane fuel. The aircraft was built from a short kit and flown at four U.S. Nationals and dozens of local and regional competitions. Equipment included a Spektrum DX 18 radio control transmitter and Thunder Power 7.4 volt battery.
“Joseph has worked very hard to prepare for this competition,” said his father, Don Szczur. “He has been participating in local and district championship events since last September, the furthest one being in lower Alabama. He competed at so many local competitions in order to hone his skills, attain feedback from judges and prepare him for the 2014 Nationals.”
Joseph is from Chantilly, VA. Chantilly is named after the town of the same name in France and is the gateway to Washington Dulles International Airport. His other interests include Chantilly High School 9th grade football and Chantilly Robotics FIRST team 612.
In addition to qualifying for the 2015 F3A world championships in Switzerland, Joseph will also be competing at the 2015 F3P indoor pattern world championships event in Warsaw, Poland next Spring.
