Those innovations would have come along in any case. They've also increased the cost of pattern exponentially.

FAI Drives the design of what we fly and always will. Those designs will trickle down to the lower classes in every case. Too bad we buy $2,000-$5,000 air frames then spend another $500-$700 making weight with the thing. If you want to show up and fly a 12 pound airplane by all means have at it. Why should anyone care?

We could easily make airplanes under weight by simply limiting all classes, below Masters, to a 110 size but we can't do that because it would obsolete over 1/2 of the pattern guys airplanes over night.

The entire reason we're at the junction we find ourselves now is due to FAI, it's that simple.

To keep those who have flown FAI for decades interested they've had to make the sequence harder and and more difficult every few years. If one looks back at FAI when turn around first started Advance of today isn't any harder. Mission creep has been the single biggest drag on our sport. It's a never ending cycle.

Why should we (AMA) even bother to follow the ruling body that has control over only 3 guys we send to one contest every other year? Sort of silly if you ask me.

Everything must evolve or die, sometimes what comes next isn't what we expected nor wanted.


Tim