ORIGINAL: alasdair
Just to satisfy the curiosity of a nosy European, under what category (if any) in the USA could one fly the likes of Steve's 14% scale DH Comet (weight 120 lb wet, pair of P-120 engines) or Dave's Vulcan (150 lb wet, pair of 36 lb Merlins)?
In other words, is the 75 lb (jet) 100 lb (prop) an absolute top limit or just the start of "Experimental".?
It Britain, anything over 20 kg (44 pounds) needs to be inspected and certified similar to your experimental class.
75 turbine and 100 prop (both wet) are the maximum weights you can fly in the US if you, your club or your site owner want the protection of AMA insurance.
This will probably be looked at in the future, but not until the FAA committee on Small UAVs has finished it's rulemaking deliberations this spring. This would also need to be a point of negotiation with the AMA's insurance carrier.