One hundred years ago, a handful of model aviation enthusiasts gathered for an event in St. Louis, Missouri, in what would become known as the National Aeromodeling Championships, commonly referred to as the Nats. That one- day event has grown into three disciplines (Free Flight [FF], Control Line [CL], and […]
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100th Anniversary Win
Hope Finn, of Mauk, GA, is the winner of the 2023 Free Flight (FF) Mulvihill competition! Hope puts her name in the history books by taking the top prize in the 100th anniversary year of the first Nats competition. Hope is pictured with her winning aircraft as well as a […]
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The Navy Nats
Many members may not know that there was a time the Nats were supported by the US Navy. For those members who participated in those Nats, the fond memories and stories remain. Between 1948 and 1972, the US Navy allowed the AMA to hold Nats competitions on its’ Naval Air […]
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My Nats Story: Lee Ray
Back in the 70s, the first RC plane my father trained me to fly was a sailplane. He didn’t want me to fly a powered airplane until I could launch, fly, and land the airplane back at my feet. His explanation was simple—if I could do that, I’d always be […]
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Register for the 2023 AMA National Aeromodeling Championships!
Known by most members as simply the “Nats,” this year’s event, spanning June 19 to July 31, brings with it a historical note—it is the 100th anniversary of the first Nats. Look for new and exciting announcements about this year’s event, beginning with Indoor Free Flight, set to kick off […]
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New Mystery Unboxing from the National Model Aviation Museum!
Michael Smith, Director of the National Model Aviation Museum, has received a new exhibit to display, and he reveals it in this new Mystery Unboxing video! The Horizon 60 was designed and manufactured by Helmut Holder and Hubert Bitner. It was piloted by Bitner to a first-place prize at the first […]
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Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the First Nats
Throughout the years, the Mulvihill contest remains an important and coveted perpetual trophy for rubber-powered Free Flight aircraft.
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AMA Podcast Ep 95 The History of Nats
For nearly 100 years, pilots from all over the country have competed at the National Aeromodeling Championships. In this episode, Michael Smith, Director of the National Model Aviation Museum, sits down to talk about the storied history of the Nats and the role it has played in the aeromodeling hobby. […]
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AMA Announces The World Games 2022 Drone Racing Team
The 11th edition of The World Games will take place this summer in Birmingham, Alabama. Originally planned for 2021, this year’s event will debut Drone Racing as a new discipline. AMA has named two pilots to represent the US at the games. Evan “HeadsupFPV” Turner, age 19, Maryville, Tennessee, and Ryan […]
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AMA Blog – Ep 48 – Charlie Bauer
In this week’s episode, we’re bringing you an interview recorded in July of 2017 with former AMA District VI vice president and Nats stalwart Charlie Bauer. We had the fortune to sit down with Charlie back in 2017 while he was competing in the Nats at the age of 87… just one year before Charlie passed away. We recorded this interview as part of our Model Aviation Nats coverage and in honor of Charlie and his dedication to the Nats, we wanted to bring you this interview in its entirety this week on the AMA Podcast. Charlie is accompanied by his son Peter in this interview.
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