ORIGINAL: mr_matt
THe basic rationale given by the AMA for a speed limit was to contain a fire closer to the flying site. Basically, a faster plane will go farther when out of control than a slower one, all things being equal.
Again, IMO that is fixing the wrong thing. If distance is the issue, fix the distance - or at a minimum use a combo - such as no X mph+ passes more than Y ft out from the flightline or more than Z ft to either side of show central. Note also, that when someone does a high-speed pass, they usually do it "close in" rather than on their "downwind" leg of a circuit. The slower downwind leg is further away than the faster close-in leg, so the argument falls apart.
Furthermore, if the prime reason for speed limits is as suggested above, then it should be a "default" limit set by the AMA but which could be overruled by individual clubs. Wy should a club that is in the middle of the dessert where the sand won't burn, be constrained by a rule designed to protect a club that is sitting in the middle of a million acres of dry grass ? We already have numerous club that have the common sense to limit turbine use to those months of the year when there is less fire risk.
There was another rationale given by the AMA for a speed limit. That is that if we have a big incident and we have no limits, then we are opening ourselves up to the potential for tight regulation by someone outside of the AMA. If we have limits, then at least we can claim we had SOME kind of restrictions, and then we can go on after the incident by just claiming it was a fluke, and that we were in control, and our existing regulations just needed some tweaking.
... and so, when there is an incident involving a 55lb giant scale racer that was going 240+ mph before it hit the bus full of nuns (d'ya remember them from the other thread ?
), and it is shown that the AMA has no speed limits in place for these aircraft, then what ? The fact that the AMA has imposed speed limits on some models, while ignoring other types, would probably
increase the chance of a succesful prosecution against the AMA, not decrease it.
Many of these "justifications" might make some sense if they were "across the board" rather than being confined to turbines.
I still think the best approach is a super demanding test/waiver, very tough to pass, granted once a year in Muncie. The tiered system. When you get to that level you can fly anything you want. BV's original proposal, as it were.
Works for me. At least it gives
some hope, and it gives pilots something to aim for. Even if it was something that I personally could not pass right now for some reason, it would at least be something to aspire to, and it could be a "carrot" that encourages people to improve their skills in order to gain the privilege of flying above 200 mph.
Gordon
edit: fix tag