Brian

Don`t you think that if the airplanes are the same size, one taking off at a heavier weight would be a dissadvantage? I think there should be a rule saying the lighter planes get a deduction for the % of weight advantage

I see no problems making weight with either version, electric or Glow Right now. And I don`t understand the complaining!
Dave Lochart , Andrew, Jason, are using regular available models that anybody can buy and are lighter than the glow guys.
Heck, I think Dave told me he was near 10 pounds. that would have been impossible just a few short years ago.

The big problem is that most of us are Lazy, we want to buy stuff off the shelf, stuff it in a plane and have no issues.
Then we blame the manf. that we could not make weight. Or we blame the rules.

FAI is a "Pro" Class. The rules define the competition, not the other way around.
I`m not sure if you have ever flown competitively in a world class event, But you don`t hear any pro`s complaining about the rules.
They study them, know them, compete within the rules as they are defined. They realize any change makes a big difference in the approach of competition. Jason did not complain about the rules when he flew his first electric Worlds in your country. He worked with what was available and placed very well as I recall. This was with very primitive equipment!

The rules are fair as they are, Electrics are relitively new comers, if it were that much better, there would not be a drive by the lower players for fairness. or to equalize the two systems. Electric airplanes are still overbuilt, we are just learning to build them lighter now.
The problem is the Manf. are cautious! and they know Joe Blow is going to buy the plane for the most part, and are built 10% heavier than they need to be for durability.

What happend to us, we used to all be builders ,the next thing you know there will be a rule stating the modeler cannot build his own model.(to keep it fair).

If you choose to fly Electric there are drawbacks.
The draw backs to flying glow is ,you have to know how to tune a IC Motor. and carry a bottle of windex. That is the main reason Guys fly Electric it`s easy ( well all except for making weight
Competition is not easy, nor should the rules make it easy. the rules drive development.
Every rule change creates a large delta of direction,and in equipment. Be carefull what you wish for.

IC will always have the power advantage which means we will always have the ability to have bigger airplanes,or bigger motors.
Bipes are just taking off, and I bet you if they ever increase the weight rule I will be able to build a Much bigger bi-plane
And if Oxai produces it ,it will sell for $10.000.

Bryan