The International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie IN will host the 2023 FAI F3CN World Championships for Model Helicopters, August 2-9. This is an opportunity for teams from around the globe to demonstrate their competitive spirits at the highest level. The US is expected to field a team in this event, as well as attend possibly nine other world championships taking place this year.
Competition has been a beacon for innovation, creativity, and even camaraderie for modelers since the first time a model aircraft took flight.
AMA President Rich Hanson addressed the value of competition in his October 2022 Model Aviation column, noting, “From the first time two modelers flew their models at the same place and at the same time, they endeavored to see who could build the best model aircraft, fly the fastest, perform the most accurate aerobatics, or achieve the greatest level of precision.”
The column functions as a primer to better understand how AMA participates in international model aviation competition, how the last few years were impacted by the pandemic, and a look back at the 2022 FAI FIABP World Championships in Bulgaria and Team USA’s success.