Model Aviation Online - Modeling Spoken Here (November 2006)

That's how it is with the Nats;
it's a life-changing experience.

I can pretty much review the years of my life and what happened during those years by corresponding them to a given year's AMA Nationals, or "Nats." The first Nats I can actually remember attending was the 1961 championships, and I do remember in detail much of what I saw there. (I had visited the 1953 and 1957 Nats with my father, but the memories from those events are sketchy at best.) I also remember being a part of the promotional program for that event.

    I was living with my family in a small town just north of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, which was to be that year's Nats venue. One of my schoolmates (I was in seventh grade, I think) was the son of one of the higher-ranking naval officers stationed at that base. His dad was assigned the task of doing some promotional work for the upcoming event.

    I was asked to help out in that capacity by appearing on the very popular "Morgan in the Morning" television show, which was produced at a studio in nearby Philadelphia. My parents okayed the appearance, and when the big day arrived I remember being driven to the studio in a naval staff car!

    I brought along my prized CL Combat model. It was a Riley Wooten-designed Quicker, and I had painted it red. My all-time CL hero Red Reinhardt had sketched some flames onto the model, and I filled in the outlines with yellow modeling dope. I thought it looked great!

    A Johnson .35 engine powered the Quicker, and in those days we hadn't even heard of or considered mufflers. The plan was for me to actually start the model on stage. I remember mentioning to one of the show's technicians that it was pretty loud, but he didn't seem too concerned.

    The stage was set (quite literally) for my big chance to be famous—locally anyway. The show went to commercial break and I was told to be ready to start the model as soon as it came back on air. I attached the battery leads to the engine and waited with my finger poised to flip the propeller.

    Just as we were counting down to come back on air, the show was preempted by the network for coverage of Gus Grissom's Mercury Liberty Bell 7 space shot! The launch, as I recall, was aborted on that day, but the coverage of the attempt went past the allotted time for the show I was on, and the segment was not rescheduled.

    Ah, so close to everlasting glory ... (Apologies to Jean Shepherd.)

    That was just one of many events in my life that centered around, and is remembered because of, a Nats. I'll wager that if you talked to other longtime modelers you would hear many other interesting stories about their Nats recollections and how their lives were affected by the experiences. That's how it is with the Nats; it's a life-changing experience.

    In this issue there is an overview article about this year's Nats written by Associate Editor Michael Ramsey. The article is titled "The 2006 Pinnacle of Aeromodeling." The Nats is just that: The Pinnacle.

    Certainly the best of the best come to the Nats to compete head to head to establish who—at that point in time—is indeed the best pilot in a particular modeling event. But to me the term "pinnacle" means so much more than who won what.

    To me it means there is a showcase of all that is good about aeromodeling. It is the stories of those who struggled against all odds and those who pitched in to help a fellow modeler get his or her equipment ready to go after a mishap at the Nats. And that's a pinnacle of spirit.

    Many give up their vacation time to come to the Nats to serve as helpers, judges, event directors, score runners, etc. And that's a pinnacle of modeling service.

    The Nats draws many spectators. In numerous cases these are modelers who feel that they are not yet of Nats-competition caliber, but they want to observe, learn, and cheer on those who are competing. And that's a pinnacle of appreciation.

    Generally the days of competition are but the tip of the iceberg of the Nats experience. The evenings are when the attendees—competitors, helpers, and spectators—adjourn to the various eateries and motels and relive the day's experiences and experiences from Nats long gone by. It is a time when techniques and modeling secrets are shared and lifelong friends are made. So it is also a pinnacle of brotherhood among modelers.

I can be contacted by telephone at (610) 614-1747 or via E-mail at robinhunt@rcn.com. My address is Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083. MA