July 25

Academy of Model Aeronautics International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie IN;

Web site: www.modelaircraft.org; E-mail: nats@modelaircraft.org; Copyright

Academy of Model Aeronautics 2008

Edited by: Liz Helms

RC AerobaticsThe third day of our national RC Aerobatics Championships

usually has a different tone about it. There is a line in an oldsong that comes to mind for this third day, “A kind of a hush fellover the world …” The name of the song is Lovers in Love, butthat line captures the atmosphere of this third day.

The title goes along with the day as well, since I’m sure all ofus agree that we love to fly and get great satisfaction out ofseeing our creations take to the air in magnificent flight. Shortlyafter 8 a.m. this morning, I walked onto the flightline at Site 1

and it almost felt like I was walking into church on Sundaymorning.

On days one and two there just seemed to be more activityand levity. There is something about the skill level of the F-09sequence for FAI that takes your breath away. Day three seemslike a new level of intensity and skill permeates the runways andskies of AMA.

While searching out Luis Rodriguez’s beautiful Pentathalon, Idiscovered another treasure on Site 4. It was also another D-6

Richard Lewis’ OvarianCancer-dedicatedAeroslave Aries.

Inset: Tail art on theOvarian Cancer Aries.

Thanks, Melissa, for all your hardwork scoring at Site 4 again thisyear.

The legendary Bobby Stout Teamkeeping everything on Site 4 runningsmoothly.

Thanks, Linda, for scoring for us forso many years.

A big thanks to Don Frederick fordouble-checking every score sheetprocessed trough Sites 1 and 3 andfor designing the scoring program weuse at the Nats.

The “mileage queen” of the 2008 Natsis Kimrey Frederick for “running” allour score sheets.

Thanks to Tim Jesky for always having a smile on hisface and running Site 1 for us.

airplane, but with quite a differentstory. Richard Lewis’s mom wasdiagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004.Richard’s Aeroslave Aries is dedicatedto her and her battle with ovariancancer.

The airplane is beautifully detailedwith several messages making us awareof ovarian cancer, even the color of theairplane—teal, the official color forovarian cancer—makes us more aware.Most of us have all sorts of decals andother artwork on our airplanes, but thisone catches you off guard.

Richard dedicated this airplane tohis mom, Susie, on Mother’s Day thisyear.Susie has had more than 55 chemotreatments and three surgeries. Checkout the pictures of this airplane andbefore we put on the next Futaba, JR,Airtronics, YS, or other details on ourairplanes think again. Richard you canbe sure of our prayers and support foryour mom.

Luis Rodriguez won theCraftsmanship award for 2008 Thepictures you see of his spectacularPentathalon don’t do the airplanecredit. Every part of the airplane ismade from balsa; there is no compositematerial anywhere on the airframeexcept for the landing gear. This is ascratch-built airplane from balsa andfoam.

The airplane is totally painted. Thereis no MonoKote on the wings, tails, etc.Luis built this airplane in just threemonths. Great job, Luis, and if you getany free time look outside your door, Ithink they are lining up for you tocustom-build something for them.

Todd Schmidt was the otherstatically judged airplane. He was thegrand winner of the Concours deElegance. That is French foroutstanding, the best, and any othersuperlatives you would like to use.Todd’s airplane is more traditionallypaint and MonoKote, but that is as faras the “traditional” part of his airplaneresembles the rest of what we fly.

Todd’s Defiant Mk II is an originaldesign. It is actually an eveloution ofmany designs he has been bringing toMuncie for the past 10 years. Todd hasnever flown another person’s designhere at the Nats. Each airplane he flieshere he has also designed.

Even as a youth Todd was designingUkies, 1/2A Pylon racers, and severalRC airplanes as well. The Defiant MkII has a fiberglass fuselage and foamtails and wings. Todd made the moldsfor the fuselage and if you were reallynice and asked him, he might lay oneup for you. It might take a month or

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RC Aerobatics VolunteersRC Aerobatics Volunteers

more, but it sure would be with the wait. When I asked Todd if there was another design on the drawing

board he smiled and said, “Always.” One of the reasons for you tocome to the 2009 Nats is to see what Todd will be flying.Congratulations for a superior job and an award well deserved.

When you think of apple pie do you also think of ice cream orcheese? When you think of chocolate brownies don’t you want aglass of milk? And when you hear the name Jesky don’t you thinkof Precision Aerobatics?

You are probably thinking of Andrew Jesky right now, but thatis the wrong name. Think of Tim, think of Linda. They are assynonymous with Precision Aerobatics as is their famous, world-class son, Andrew. There could be no Nats without thecontestants, that is for sure, but there also could be no Natswithout the numerous volunteers behind the scenes who keepthings running.

Without the Event Director, Line Chiefs, Time Keepers,Tabulators for scoring, or the Runner bringing the score sheets toget calculated there would be no pilots tracing beautiful melodiesin the air. Tim Jesky you see if you are flying on Site 1, but Lindayou would have to search for onSite 3. She is doing thetabulation with Don Frederick.Don’s daughter Kimrey is thatsmiling beauty who is runningall those score sheets.

On Site 4 you have to go ona treasure hunt to find MelissaHester doing the scoring and somany other jobs there with thelegendary Bobby Stout. Bobbyhas run Site 4 every year sincethe AMA started hosting theNats here at out magnificentHeadquarters facilities. DonFrederick even designed thescoring system we use here.

Thanks to all the volunteerswho make it possible for thepilots to have so much funbeing “Lovers in Love” with thejoy of flight.

—Jim Quinn

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Two National Champions:our own Jason Shulman (L)and the Canadian ChampionChad Northeast (R).

We were glad to see one of our favoriteCanadian pilots stop by at the 2008 Nats.From the left: Todd Blose, Ivan Kristensen,and Bryan Hebert.

Most of the gang fromDistrict I. They are a greatbunch of people whoreally enjoy flyingtogether and just beingtogether.

A most special thank-you goes to DaveGuerin for a fabulous 2008 Nats. Dave,you are a special person and do anoutstanding job. We hope to see youagain in 2009.

Mon.-Thurs.Friday SaturdaySunday

9 a.m. - 7 p.m.9 a.m. - 6 p.m.9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Surface Condition Weather Forecasting for Air Sports Aviators - generalMuncie area - from www.usairnet.com.

Break something? Fix it fast. Visit Peak Electronics, Inc.located at Site 3. Supporting your needs during the Nats.

• Sirius Chargers and accessories • Custom ElectronicsAccessories • Xtreme Link 2.4 GHz • Castle Creationsspeed controls • Velcro • Hobby Lobby FlyCamOne 2

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Advanced F3A

Intermediate

Masters

Left: Mike Hesterpresents Luis Rodriguezwith the CraftsmanshipTrophy for 2008.

Above: The pilots who are in the Finals go around theroom selecting each maneuver for the UnknownSequences.

Right: Mike Hester presented ToddSchmidt with the Concours deElegance trophy.

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Above: JasonShulman: “Can youhear me now?”

Below: Jason ispracticing theUnknown Sequencewith his stick planewhile Sean McMurtrylooks at the sportingcode for the nextmaneuver in thesequence.

Todd Schmidt and his Concours de Elegance-winning Defiant Mk II.LuisRodriguezproudly holdshisCraftsmanshipaward-winningPentathalon.