The Navy Nats 

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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 Stations (NASs.) 

 
Navy Nats Naval Air Stations locations by year: 
 
1948-1949: Olathe, Kansas 
1950-1951: Dallas, Texas 
1952: Los Alamitos, California 
1953: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 
1954: Glenview, Illinois 
1955: Los Alamitos, California 
1956: Dallas, Texas 
1957: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 
1958: Glenview, Illinois 
1959: Los Alamitos, California 
1960: Dallas, Texas 
1961: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 
1962: Glenview, Illinois 
1963: Los Alamitos, California 
1964: Dallas, Texas 
1965: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 
1966: Glenview, Illinois 
1967: Los Alamitos, California 
1968: Olathe, Kansas 
1969: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 
1970-1972: Glenview, Illinois 
 
This quarter-century relationship had some great moments. Here are a few mementos from that time: 

Nats Program, 1948, front [Source: National Model Aviation Museum Archives, #0001 AMA Collection] 
Nats Program, 1955, front [Source: National Model Aviation Museum Archives, #0001 AMA Collection] 
1969 Nats, Willow Grove, PA. Modelers showing off their club t-shirts. [Source: National Model Aviation Museum Archives, #0001 AMA Collection] 
1969 Nats, Willow Grove, PA. Building Delta Darts with kids. [Source: National Model Aviation Museum Archives, #0001 AMA Collection] 
1971 Nats, Glenview, Illinois. Unknown young modeler launching. [Source: National Model Aviation Museum Archives, #0001 AMA Collection

One comment

  1. The 1969 Willow Grove NATS was the first I flew at flying 1/2A Proto. Wonderful memories. I[ll bever forget the big building hangers and all the events within walking distance.

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