The SPA concept is to limit equipment to a specific era - planes before Jan 1, 1976 - with no retracts or tuned pipes. The idea is to keep things simple and cheap. A few years ago, 4c engines up to .91 were allowed because we had noise issues at a couple of our regular sites. Since that time, the OS91 has become the dominant engine which has changed the way the planes perform a bit. Largely, they are slower than when originally flown, but vertical performance is better because of the larger props on the 91s.

SPA is in a position where it wants remain viable and flexible enough to grow with a pretty hard set of rules. This is not an easy thing to do. Any really significant alteration of the rules violates the original concept to the point it may no longer apply. Our position is not an easy one to maintain.

Let the fun begin. Who doesn't like what about the basic concept of SPA? If you make a suggestion, please be prepared to back it up with active participation. That means show up at an event (if geographically possible) and fly.