ORIGINAL: bjr_93tz
Allowing IC planes to be weighed without fuel yet stipulating under the same set of rules that electric planes must be weighed with batteries is unfair and bias against electric.
Maybe, but IC planes have always been weighed with the batteries in. I ask why should an electric plane be exempt from this?
Just because it's for the motor and not the radio gear is a hollow argument under the current rules.
However, given it's the 21st century and we are bound to see further innovation, it sort of makes sense to dispense with the fuel/batteries in/out debate and push for a unified maximum takeoff weight. Consider placing rules limiting propellor total blade area, diameter, pitch (or all three) should take care of any HP wars no matter the power source.
This is incomplete.....Any propeller must turn to do any work. Prop size doesn't matter if the prop isn't being turned...
If you meant it as total work being done at maximum power by the propulsion system, perhaps! That takes into consideration not just the power system but also the load being carried.Personally I think it would be too cumbersome to go down this path. It's possible, but improbable...
I think the E guys have areasonable argument regarding theirrecylable/renewablefuel source(bateries). Consider a YS powered model weighed without its fuel. Well, as has been argued countless times before. 20-24 ozs of 25% glow fuel (sg=0.9) weighs over 1 pound and as of right now, that weight is gratis (consumed in flight so it currently don't count.....!?! insert argument here!)