If I may make a suggestion. If you are only just wondering if combat would be fun and do not know if you want to go full blast into it, perhaps you might want to try a SPAD combat plane. Simple and easy to make, they don't cost much to build and are quickly replaced or discarded if you find out that combat is not for you. Plans are free and available at www.spadtothebone.com.

For starters I go with a HOR with either the recomended 15 or a cheap bushed 25 for power. The only thing you'll probably have to order is 2 mil Coroplast and you can order 4 wings worth of material for 8-15 bucks from www.harborsales.com. The rest you can get at Lowes or Home Depot.

Nothing wrong with the BattleAxe but it will be more expensive to start with when all you are trying to do is learn how to cut streamer. Do that on the cheap, then move up in performance.


To learn how to start cutting streamers, both of you go up with 30 foot of string and 30 foot of streamer material. Then take turns one of you flying slow orbits of the field while the other trys to cut the end of the streamer. It takes a little bit of practice but you will dial in soon enough. When you get to where you have no problems cleaning each others streamer off, go up with the same long leaders and try some combat. Then shorten the leaders to the contest lengths. This will save you aircraft. What generally happens to the newbie is he starts aiming at the plane and missing, getting the streamer. But as you increase in skill, you'll notice that you move up on the streamer. Eventually you'll hit the other guys tail and not the streamer. That's when it's time to start aiming at streamer.

So many different games to play, so much fun to have. Remember the AMA setback guidelines, and safety gear requirements.

Have fun.

Do get up to that contest and see how the Big Boys play. It can be intimidating at first, but it won't take long for you to get there. In many of the contests that I've gone to, plenty of guys are really just sport pilots that are trying their hands at combat. That's what they call easy pickins. But even club pilots with some practice can give the old hands a workout. You'll see.

But don't slough off those SPADs. There will be plenty of opportunities to dump money into this hobby. Might as well take baby steps with equipment you might already have.