My 2 ounce pilot figure that costs $50.00 works just great in my$6000.00 40lb plane. Just PDB.

Pattern planes use solid canopies.

CD's who let the pilot/panel rule slip over the years are causing the problem, not solving it.
If a rule is a rule and people just ignore it, then there is not much of a rule there. It is up to our CD's to apply the rules and not personal judgment because "they" themselves don't want to spend $$ on a part that is not vital to the airplane being flight worthy.

On the 2 blade prop, wheel pant arguments, you can fly any of those planes on a two blade prop but the forces on the crankshaft flange are increased so for safety they run 3 and 4 blade props. Any of those planes can fly with out wheel fairings but nobody wants to because the plane looks just silly with out them.
I have not seen any IAC plane fly with out a pilot in them (yet).

Scale such as military scale planes are made to look real on static display but have to be able to fly. Way different type set up than what we have where our focus is on a scale looking plane that flies great.

I can see some argument for high temperature or high altitude locations and the extra 2-4 ounces of weight.

I am not going to change minds here and that is OK. Like Ken said, pop over to the IMAC site and vote on it so the board can make an accurate decision on what the membership wants. I suspect that only the people the don't want a pilot bust or panel will vote because only they care.

Till then, we should be using the rule and CD's should enforce the rule.
Will B.