Guys, several have mentioned the 1.20 size planes. They ARE popular, and inexpensive but personally, I don't see the need for a separate class for them. My reason is that the manuevers in Basic, Sportsman, and Intermediate class are WELL within the flight capabilities of a properly setup and powered aerobat of about 74". There aren't any manuevers that require deep vertical penetration so power isn't an issue. What IS an issue is how well the pilot is able to control HIS airplane. For example, Basic has a 2 turn upright spin as a center manuever, that means the stall occurs directly in front of the pilot, and is downgraded if before or after the "centerline". Downgrade if plane is snapped into the spin (nose lifts). Judges want to see the nose and a wing drop identifying the stall. Must be exactly 2 turns, downgrade if over-rotates or under-rotates. Nose should be pointing straight down at completion of second turn and a short line flown demonstrating straight down heading (yep, downgrade if not straight down, or no line drawn). Smooth pullout to upright flight on same heading as manuever entry. (downgrade if heading changed). Lotsa opportunities for points and downgrades here, and if you haven't practiced your spins so that you can do it with precision EVERY time, in either direction, you'll not score well. (Oh yeah, I forgot, if you had a bigger plane, you'd have scored better, right?).

When you break down each manuever into its parts in Basic, Sportsman, or Intermediate classes, none of them puts a properly powered and setup 1/4 scale aerobat at a disadvantage to a larger plane, because they are all about manuever placement, precision, and attention to detail. Additionally, you'd not fly your smaller plane in the same airspace as a larger plane, because that would emphasize your plane's smaller size. Fly your manuevers closer, in a smaller box, and slower and your plane can present as well as a larger plane flown farther away. Your task is to fly YOUR plane to your best, and not worry about the other guy's plane.

The manuevers in Advanced and Unlimited DO require more vertical penetration and larger planes get that without penalty. You can hang a larger engine on a smaller plane, and only have a high powered brick that only does straight up well.

My point is that there are already 3 classes where a 1/4 scale plane can do well, and the pilot is already flying with his peers.