Tony,

My comments are based in part on the assumption that airframes would get larger. That is not my only discussion point. That being said, I agree with you that the majority of airframes are developed for F3A and they are then used in AMA, and this has happened during a time when AMA and F3A rules matched.

No other country has the depth of flying and degree of support structure below F3A that AMA has. Comparisons of other countries to the US are suspect simply because of the big difference in numbers of flyers and other social/economic factors.

I agree that things like drag racing and pattern can not be directly compared, but the competitive element is the same. Limits (whatever they are) are pushed in every competitive event (no matter what event).

You are absolutely right that a higher (or unlimited) weight limit in AMA would allow the use of lower cost, possibly higher weight systems. I know that is what you hope for, and that would be a good thing. However, there is also another side to it which you have not addressed - it will also allow competitors to use larger motors and batteries (existing currently) that have a higher cost and drive up the level of performance needed to be competitive. There is not a single instance when higher power systems became available that they were not used, and in every instance, the cost went up (and this is independant of airframe size).

I agree absolutely that the rules as they are now are biased against electrics, and your proposal does eliminate that bias. However, I can not support any rule that allows the current models to become more expensive, and your proposal would allow this for electrics (higher takeoff weight).

I'd be happy with 11 lbs takeoff weight for all planes, but the majority of IC flyers would not support that. I'd be happy to see a power limit put in place - but with IC and electric being used, this would be extremely hard to structure and enforce to the point that I do not think it would be practically feasible.


Arch,

The tank empty tank full point is amusing (always has been), but how is it valid for one plane to be RTF (the electric) but the other (IC) still needing additional weight above 11 lbs to be RTF. It is not the fault of the electric flyer that "fuel" for the IC guys weighs more than "fuel" for the electric guys. My IC stuff was <11 lbs RTF, so it can be done, but I am not advocating such a rule because it would disqualify a lot of the current pattern flyers, designs, setups, etc.

Regards,

Dave