Normally I'd agree with your point, Michael. but a few things to consider. First off the weights of the two 150-powered Composite-Arf planes was 38.5 and 39.5 lbs, respectively for the DA and 3W/piped aircraft. Both spun Mejzlik 32-10's, the DA at about 5900 rpm, the 3W at a little more. My BME was turning a 28-10 at OVER 7000 rpm, which represents a tremendous difference in actual air velocity coming off the propellers in a static situation. Once the props unloaded, you can add aobut 400-600 rpm to those figures, depending on the engine, but let's just use the static figures, 6000 rpm versus 7000 rpm, and the comparative LOADED weights (with fuel) of the planes, 30 lbs for the bme, over 42, fully loaded, for the 150's.

Now we have a plane that is .70% the weight, and has air moving 17% faster coming off the prop. Take whatever figures you are getting from the ThrusthP program and reduce them by 30% for an accurate static thrust reading, and you will see that the disparity in actual thrust between the two combinations is reduced to about zero. Then add in the additional velocity of the air coming off the BME's prop, against the rather slow vertical speeds involved (rather than horizontal speed), and you can see where this is going. . .

I have 4 pics attached, that were taken of one of the "races". . 40 people watched this go on . .40 people agree that the BME powered plane clearly outperformed a piped 3W150 using the same brand/pitch of prop. And NO, no one had any idea what would happen or which plane would have superior climbing ability before we too off.