The reason I got out of competition in the first place, was that to be competative above NOVICE class you HAD to have retracts, pipes etc. In the spirit of competition, to get more speed, only the highest priced engines, and equipment were competative. Personally, I love the current rules, (by the way I just joined, and have not yet competed). What the rules do is serve as an equalizer--the emphasis is placed on flying skill rather than equipment, and the quest to get a tech edge on the other guy.

On the other hand, I understand the desire to fly pattern the way it was flown later on--fast and huge--there is something "blood-pumping" about screaming across the sky in 5 seconds.

I hope if a pipes and retracts class is added, hopefully it will add to, and not REPLACE current SPA rules. Personally, I hope flyers who want to just have fun with simpler, more basic planes will not be left out in the cold. We may benefit from a "larger umbrella" but don't forget the basics, and convert competition to only those who are willing to invest additional money and time into the higher performance, and more expensive gear. As a thought, the new class events could could be held only at meets without noise problems as an additional event.