It seems that the thread about writing to the local airport contains other stuff than just the topic suggestion. So in search of history rather than future guessing, I thought I would present a topic of AMA History.

So very many of you are new to AMA (anything inside 25 years is recent to me, ) that I am going to release something probably well capped for all these past 40- years. I found a thread in another forum about Old Time AMA National Contests and it was interesting. I responded about some of the NATs, 1972 and '73 plus a little known item that I discovered only some 5 years ago.

No likee, No readee!

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=17839.0

Re: MEMORIES ON THE NAVY NATS- SHARE YOURS

While just browsing through, I found this old thread. Very interesting back in 2010. Just thought I would add some final "Behind the Scenes" informational concerning the historic days of the late Navy Nats.

While I moved to Chicago-Land in 1968, new pilot UAL, I was too close to the bottom for any seniority during '68 -72 to get time to do anything needing a schedule. I flew in the '71 Nats mostly FF and helping my young sons. They each got a trophy or two, but 'ol Dad never did.

On to the purpose of this story. Early in 1972, the Glenview Base Commander changed. After a short while HE canceled the NATs as the Navy Nats used Reserve manpower to operate the NATs. AMA Headquarters then canceled the Nats for '72.

When I heard this I asked questions. I made local contacts, one being influential, and we asked the Glenview NAS Commander if it was personnel or Base or what. It was personnel. He got far too many letters from parents questioning why their little "Johnnies" had to work at a toy airplane event, especially extra hours while doing their reserve time and/or overtime on the base. Being new he just took the easy way out to satisfy the families. Remember back then there was a draft. Many had the option of service. Sailors did not do much jungle warfare. Many were back doing reserve time to serve out their military time.

The Commander said OK to use the base for the nine days, however not one Navy person could operate any official NATS space while on active duty at Glenview. We went to the AMA Executive Director, John Worth, and said that we could do the NATs with local manpower. John said "NO".

I then contacted the AMA President, Jonny Clemens in Dallas. He said if we thought we could do it, "Hexx Yes!". Worth was so informed, by Clemens. Worth was not happy being overridden, and he never let me forget it, even when years later I was a DVP.

Then I became the '72 NATs Manpower Director. In Chicago-Land manpower was not a problem. While a few prima-donas may disagree, I was very happy about the way folks poured in to help. IMO it was just terrific. Of course many event directors had their own close-knit personnel and that was definitely a BIG PLUS.

The '72 Nats was a success. The '73 Nats at Oshkosh, WI was a whole 'nother story. Remember there were no computers back then and the AMA ED never prepared for the differences in area. Yet we did have a total off-military NATs. It did happen!

Now here is a story that even I did not know until about 5 years ago when it was revealed to me by the late Reid Simpson, a real Free Flight competition person until his far too soon leaving us. Rest in Peace my Friend.

After the Oshkosh NATS the USAF volunteered to take over the program. They had a facility in IL that could handle the program. The Colonel that had just become Commander of the department that would handle the operation was also a modeler. He was anxious to bring the NATs into the USAF.

Well, who do you think just might have been the fly in the ointment? If you guessed the AMA Headquarters, you are correct. The Ex. Director DEMANDED that He and his Staff would have to have full Officer Rights at the Officer's Club, on base facilities (food service) Officer's Quarters, and be treated as officers. That was beyond the Colonel's authority to do so, especially O' Club and Quarters. AMA turned away a program that could have been a NATs Host for how-many-years I know not, but for a long time.
Even when I was a DVP that information never surfaced. It is still not "recognized" however I spent several hours one day, some 5 years ago, at a FF meet in Seguin, TX and Reid and I had a long talk about Old Times. This piece of history is no longer capped.

Therefore, IMO, all the AMA guessing games and FAA poop for flavor is just that - flavored poop. I have made a number of prophecies however the result is yet to be.
Now knowing some of the history maybe you can give the future additional thought. For 35 years I was under the impression that the USAF never wanted anything to do with AMA. Five years ago I learned the truth.

Is this AMA, FAA truth going to take so long? If so I won't have a care!