since basic allows any aircraft, the rule does not apply to the class. The rule is supposed to apply to the upper classes. as bill said, despite the rhetoric, few CD's pay any real attention to it - which saves them from getting sucked into a meaningless debate as to whether a cockpit (that thing that is supposed to be under the canopy) - is realistic.

another interesting argument is the unintended result of impressive judging on enforcement of the rule. The inflated scores that define Impression judging create a closer field than might actually be the case if the scores were more accurately determined - a point that i am willing to bet that every IMAC judging school has never addressed. the other problem is that no one has ever figured out what the rule means - yeah, Wiley Coyote might not cut it, but neither does a 30% pilot in a 40% airplane, or some of other bizarre interpretations that exist. Ignore it, we did.