ORIGINAL: JeffH
I would limit the planes to a weight limit vs. a wing span. If a beginner has a tiger 60, Kougar, or even a DB ARF and sees he has to compete against a full on 80'' Extra 300, he will be less than thrilled to compete against a ''competition plane''. Use the same 11 pound limit that pattern currently uses, or maybe even 12, and leave it at that. That fits many many sport planes that are currently flying at any given field. For the most part, the intimidation factor needs to be lowered to get average sunday flyers involved.
One reason saturday night drag racing works so well is that they have they a street class that guys run the family car, truck, etc without having to run up against a 10 second camaro in their stock VW golf. Guys that already have the fast cars will not run that class due to egos, and that would work the same way here. If somebody already a ''real pattern plane'' they will fly sportsman since they have the plane.
I agree that some form of control needs to be thought through as to the type of model to be used. This may be as simple and straight forward as "no "REAL" Pattern planes allowed", "fly what you brought other than that". That's why it needs some form of guideline to be thought through by the SIG for PA.....
Hmmmm, intimidation, I'm not so sure about that one. If a guy wants to fly a full blown IMAC/3D ARF like an EF 78" Extra, I'd say let 'im. Pattern as a whole doesn't penalize the model as I've heard happens in other disciplines.....Besides, it would be great fun if that same Extra lost to a trainer. Bragging rights galore!! And a beer afterwards
I would bet dollars to donuts that no matter what a fellow flies, the best thumbs will win at the end of the day. The sequences involved are likely to be "super simple" so it is possible for a Kadet or Falcon to win in good sport hands.