Observing the Nats

Hi All
I've been out of this hobby for quite a few years & thought I might like to fly a little CL again. Well digging out what few misc. supplies I have, I don't think I'll have anything to fly this summer - so thought mebbe I would go down to Muncie and watch some good CL flying, probably the 6th & 7th of July. So, never having been to Muncie, is there anything I should know? Is it a participant only type of event or are spectators welcome? Bleachers or bring my lawn chair? Cooler? Shade? Sorry I'm sounding so ignorant, but I have no clue as to what the facilities are in Muncie. I did send in a membership application last month, so I am once again an AMA member. I promise, I'll get my shop together and start building this coming winter!
Steve
A CL flyer in W. Michigan feeling pretty lonely.... my friends now fly RC

> (...) thought mebbe I would go down to Muncie and watch some good CL
>flying, probably the 6th & 7th of July. So, never having been to
>Muncie, is there anything I should know? Is it a participant only
>type of event or are spectators welcome?

Spectators are encouraged.

>Bleachers or bring my lawn chair?

Lawn Chair

>Cooler?

No problem

>Shade? Sorry I'm sounding so ignorant, but I have no clue as to what
>the facilities are in Muncie. I did send in a membership application
>last month, so I am once again an AMA member. I promise, I'll get my
>shop together and start building this coming winter!

Can't tell you about the site. It's just too far away to go to for me, but I already knew enough, second hand, to handle all but the one about how much shade there might be! It's been my habit for 6-8 years now to carry shade with me in the form of a "dining canopy" (similar to a "screen tent", but with no sides on it at all).

.
Kiwi

Yes,

Definitely take along something for shade, there are places to put them up along the fence by the L Pad. Friday and Saturday the Top 20 and top 5 fly off days - you will see some extremely good and spectacular precision aerobatic pattern flying being done. This is the alternate year to the World Championships so all the best in the U.S., Canada, maybe Japan and some flyers from otheer countries as well should be there. It will be a real shoot out to get to the Top 5. My predictions are (barring anything unusual from happening is)

Most likely in the Top 5 Flyoff - 1. Bill Werwage (It could be his year this year!)2. Paul Walker - the defending and 9 time Nationals Champion 3. Todd Lee - An up and comming flyer that could just take it all with a fine flight on Saturday! 4. Ted Fancher - a perinial top 5 flyer and 4 time winner. 5. Doug Moon - a suprize contender in the top 5 last year and the first open rookie I think to make the top 5. He has the talent - it just needs some polising and he could find himself as a winner also. He's also my dark horse pick to make the top 5 this year, even if he did it last year - this year will be a lot harder!

Also, while your there - Look up Tom Morris, he is the PAMPA Newsletter editor. He can show you some things about this sport hobby and you can also obtain a copy of Stunt News, the premier Newsletter in all of Model Aviation!

Jim Pollock, 97,98 and 02 Nats competitior

I've never been to any NATS, but I would suspect that if you set up a sunshade/rainfly and stock it with some chairs and a cooler, you will have a bunch of new CL friends in short order. You might add a sign that has your hometown/state. Sounds like fun! Welcome back Steve

Steve,
The advice so far has been pretty good. Your own shade, a chair and some liquid are all required to make it through the day. I think that there is a Boy Scout troop that makes burgers and dogs at a reasonable price in the L-pad area. Might be worthwhile to catch the Beginner and Intermediate events on Sunday (might be able to help someone out) and the OTS and Classic on Monday if you are in to that stuff. There will be 3 of us from the Flint area roaming around at the various events. Put up a sign and we can stop by for a visit.

>A CL flyer in W. Michigan feeling pretty lonely.... my
>friends now fly RC

Steve,

Where in Michigan? There are lots of Michigan guys on this board.

Welcome a-board .

Andrew Tomasch

Northville, Michigan

More things to bring:

Cooler
Soft drinks
Snacks
Stopwatch (everyone seems to be checking lap speeds, etc.)
A rug or two (for taking a nap)
Sunscreen
Earplugs
Something to fly!

You can park yourself next to Stunt, or near Combat, or near the Racing/Speed cages, or find yourself a spot near one of the practice circles and do some flying. Or change locations day to day. There's more to see than you can shake a stick at.

Places to stay: If you like to camp out, there's a camping ground next to the Combat circles. Shower at the HQ building. For motels, check out some of the previous posts about the Nats.

>Where in Michigan? There are lots of Michigan guys on this
>board.

Grand Rapids.

>Welcome a-board .
>Andrew Tomasch
>Northville, Michigan

Thanks, Andrew.

I appreciate all the advise, & I'll be looking for Curt's black 'burb and Jerry's blue van. Thanks for the invite, see you there!
Steve ..

Everyone has good advice here. If you dont have an awning, not to worry. At the main paved stunt "L-Pad" there is a nice covered permanent pavillion. Also, I have never been turned away from someone elses shade!

Intermediate and beginner stunt will be flown on Sunday on the grass circles.

Classic and OTS on Monday I believe on the L-Pad.

And lots of combat, speed, and racing going on in the vicinity.

Stop and say hi.

Curt Nixon
Livonia, MI
Plane "Impatient" flying Intermediate
Black GMC Suburban

Steve,

All good advice. You are welcome to share our canopy at the intermediate circles on the 5th and 6th. (While I struggle with the pattern.)

Curt,

See you there.

Jerry Tarnofsky

Toyota van / blue canopy

(While I struggle
>with the pattern.)
>

Sandbagger!

LAST EDITED ON Jun-27-03 AT 09:41 AM (CDT)
 
Curt,

Give me a brake, I only learned it a few weeks ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I didn't crash at Brodak's. A milestone. (maybe I should have not said that.) Oh well, I'll bring LOTS of planes to the NATS.

Jerry:)

In Jest Jerry:

Actually you always worried the heck out of me. You know, I just flew my first contest in intermediate at Cleveland last fall.

You'll do just fine. Lets hook up and compare notes on saturday. We should get there before noon.

Curt,

(In Jest Jerry:)
I knew that

Any-who, were getting in on Friday. Check in, practice, go see The Terminator 3, etc. etc.

See you Saturday.

Excellent.

While you're there, wander around a bit. There is a lot more to C/L then just Stunt. Before you get to the L Pad, you will have to past the Speed, Racing, Combat and Carrier areas. Rather than the 6th and 7th of July, I would suggest later in the week. Say Thursday and Friday. Then you'll get to see some of all the C/L events. On the 6th and 7th you will miss quite a lot.
Bill

Good point on the right days to visit Bill.

We wandered around all day Monday last year and it was a blast. I was with an ex-proto speed, combat, and team race guy so I had it all 'splained to me. Its neat to watch the other events.