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It seems like yesterday when the .60 two-stroke was the big iron of the day. Most modellers in my area (southern NJ) flew .19 - .40 sized engines. There were no .50's, since most had gone out of production in the very late sixties or early seventies. Those still being produced were nearly as expensive as a .60. My second OS R/C engine was a .58. Super Tigre made .51s and .56s, but they were not cheap. None of them were cheap in those days. OS was cheaper than Fox and K&B, but it took them years to equal their sales, much less exceed them in sales. They were considered "Japanese Junk" by many folks. You know, the same kind of folks that are not calling Chinese engines "Chinese Junk". Probably their progeny, now that I think of it.

My how times have changed.

I see folks showing up at the field with less than two years flying experience pulling four and five hundred dollar models from their vehicles. Of course, these models are usually equipped with three hundred dollar engines and five hundred dollars worth of servos. Add up all of this money, plus the money of the radio system (minus servos) and the accessories to make it fly and you have nearly as much money invested as what my brand new 1968 Rambler American cost new sitting on the showroom floor ($1,700 USD). I'm dead serious. No, I have not adjusted for inflation. There wouldn't be any shock factor in that.

Were I looking for a strong enough 1.20 today, I would buy the Saito 1.25 and pump its snorkel full of nitro-laced fuel. I'm pissed at OS for making the 1.20AX butt ugly. I don't doubt one little bit that it is a fine engine. <G>