In RC Combat, we tie crepe paper streamers on the tails of the planes, then try to cut them off each other.

The RCCA (Radio Control Combat Assoc) is the official AMA SIG (special interest group) for combat. The offical AMA rules are based on the RCCA rules, and you can find the full rules on the RCCA site or in the AMA rulebook. The RCCA website is http://www.rccombat.com

Some areas fly slightly different rules, but in RCCA/AMA rules, the streamers are 30feet long, and attached with a 5foot string leader. The contest is decided by points. You score 100 points each time you cut another guy's streamer, and you get 4 points for each foot of your origional streamer that you manage to keep when you land.

Anywhere from 4-12 planes can be in the air at a time, depending on the contest. A heat starts with all the pilots ready, with engines off. A "Start engines" call is made by the CD (contest director) or line marshall. Pilots then have 90 seconds to get in the air. After 90 seconds, "start combat" is called. If you are in the air and ready to go at "start combat", you score 20 points. The heat then lasts 5minits of combat. If you fly out the 5min with out crashing or funning out of fuel or whatever, you score another 20 points. You also get the 20point "complete round" score if you crash as a direct result of a mid-air collision.

Here's a couple of action shots.
5 planes up early in a heat:



The thrill of victory:



The agony of defeat: (it's not obvious, but the two planes on the right just hit each other and are going down)