My point TFF is that development should still be allowed. Pilots should be given a set of parameters and limits, then set free to design and build whatever they think will work. Moving on from the Nats winning designs that we all know about, look at all the ideas that were tried and contributed to the knowledge we have now. There were planes with super thin wings, planes with flaps, all kinds of experimental airfoils, tweaks to engines and exhausts, and so on. A big part of what made that era of pattern flying so interesting was the fact that anything could happen, and the next big idea was always just around the corner.

So today, we have new building materials and techniques to make planes lighter and stronger. We have better engines and radios, lighter batteries, and more precise servos. So if classic pattern pilots want to fly as it was done back then, why not act as if all of those things were available back then and see what could have been done with them? I see Mickey Walker's point of wanting to keep costs down by not allowing some of the more expensive performance adders, but when the rulebook is so tight that no one can get creative and innovate it stifles interest. If aircraft design and power system choices could be opened up a bit, at least at the higher classes, it would give pilots a reason to stay interested for longer.