Oscar, 17-years-old from Fort Collins, Colorado, was first bitten by the RC-flying bug at 8 years of age, when his dad introduced him to a flight simulator and gifted him with his own UMX Champ. From then on, Oscar and his dad (also a RC flying enthusiast) have been regulars at the nearby flying fields and have enjoyed building and repairing (and re-repairing) their own gliders.
In 2020, Oscar caught the attention of the local Rocky Mountain Soaring Association (RMSA) members, who were eager to help him grow and succeed in his craft. Under their remarkable guidance and support, Oscar has quickly become a formidable flying competitor.
In 2023, Oscar earned a spot as a junior pilot on the USA FAI F3K World Championship team and traveled to Romania to proudly represent the USA and his fellow pilots back in Colorado. Being able to now compete as a junior pilot on the 2025 Team USA F5J in Argentina still feels like a dream to Oscar, and he is continuously grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that flying competitively has presented to him.
And while the competitions are exhilarating, Oscar's favorite part of this whole experience has been the friends he's made along the way and the powerful sense of community fostered within this sport.
Oscar--a high school junior--is currently serving as the President of the Rocky Mountain Soaring Association (RMSA) in Colorado and when he's not flying, he can be found skateboarding, rock hounding, gardening, and participating in various STEM and Science Olympiad activities.
Milan is a 17-year old senior in high school from San Diego, California. He grew up around aviation, flying airplanes and helicopters with his dad. He had an early fascination with parafoil kites where he could feel and play with the wind and air. He ventured into the RC world, first flying electric RC airplanes and then racing RC cars competitively.
Milan always loved gliders, and he soon discovered F3K. He had an opportunity to buy a used DLG glider in the summer of 2023 and soon after started competing at his local club, the Torrey Pines Gulls. He competed at the AMA NATS in 2024, winning Best Junior. His love for RC gliders continued to grow, and so did the gliders - ultimately acquiring a 4-meter F5J glider shortly after. Milan placed 3rd overall in the 2024 F5J in the Rockies, qualifying for a spot as a junior on the 2025 Team USA F5J at the World Championships in Argentina. He is so proud to represent the US Junior team alongside his teammates and friends and is extremely grateful for the opportunity.
When not flying RC gliders, Milan can be found playing upright bass with the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, participating in the First Tech Challenge Robotic competition, and on the rare occasion when the thermals have subsided, he may take to the waves on his longboard.
John is a 16-year-old junior F5J pilot. This accomplished young man and his machine are in sync with Mother Nature. Before and after school, John practices in the northeastern US with his brothers, David and Joey. Coached by one of the best, Chris, an aerospace engineer, John becomes an artist in motion.
In 2021 and 2023 John won several Junior National categories in Muncie, Indiana, offering some decent competition to the seniors. The Junior field has been sparse to non-existent in recent years, a reality John has worked hard to correct. John has fun flying, and his enthusiasm is contagious. John, his brother David, and his neighbor, Chris, have also taught several of John's friends to fly RC to help build a better junior program.
The F5J World Championship Competition is a significant opportunity for John to help another Junior Team USA bring home a team world championship. John is honored to represent the USA in Argentina and hopes his enthusiastic participation encourages more young pilots to adopt the sport and join an F5J team.
Rowdy is 13 years old from Watkinsville, GA. He is Homeschooled and his favorite subject is Science right now. In science he is learning about Energy in all its forms. Rowdy loves to hunt, ride dirt bikes, play airsoft, and fly RC airplanes especially the sailplanes. When he grows up he would like to get his pilot's license and is also thinking about becoming a lineman.
Rowdy and his father Jared started flying RC planes about 2½ years ago. During the summer of 2023 we drove up to Muncie, IN to see a friend of ours compete in the sailplane events. Rowdy was hooked! 2024 brought the first sailplanes and he began competing. Rowdy's first event was at Triple Tree in May of 2024. He has enjoyed attending these events and learning all he can from the seasoned RC sailplane community, from how best to read the air so he can catch a thermal to how to push himself and his plane to the limits. He is looking forward to many more events and gathering with the many friends he has made.