Tommy S, have you actually attended a for real SPA event? I've been to a few and I fail to see why you say that the SPA models are so different than the originals that they resmble them in name only. The events that I've attended have made me feel quite 70'ish. Tiger Tails, Daddy rabbits, Kaos, Dirty Birdi, Phantoms, Deceptions, Intruders, etc. Yes, some of the models have slight modifications, but please don't pretend that folks didn't modify models during the 70's and 80's as well. Going from tricycle gear to tail dragger has always been common and in no way represents a departure from the way things were. Is the WM Intruder 91 a faithful reproduction of the original Intruder? No, but when you put them side by side you absolutely have no doubt what the new intruder was based on. If your opinon about the SPA models is based on planes that you've seen that fly in the novice class then you need to understand that Novice does not impose the same standard as the other classes. Novice class is intended to allow folks that are unsure about whether they want to fly pattern at all to fly what they have (although there is an engine size limitaion as well as a physical model size limitaion). So please don't base your opinions on picture you may have seen that were of aircraft flown in the SPA novice class.

Having flown in SPA, I have no problem with the no pipes or retracts. 91FS engines do seem a bit odd (many will agree on this) but that's what they decided on. I don't think any organization has ever imposed a rule of any sort that didn't have somebody that disagreed with it. Nobody forces anyone to fly the 91FS and trust me there are competetive planes and pilots flying the .61 two stroke.

If you actually belong to and participate in SPA events, then I would tend to give you more credit for your gripes and concerns. If like so many others you are simply a troll reading over forums and feeling the need to bless the world with your own personal opinions without having any real life participation to base them on, then I think maybe you have some other issues that might be a little more disturbing than the rules of the SPA. Maybe rather than bashing SPA, you should redirect your enthusiasm by supporting and actually participating in the Ballistic Pattern Association. I'm certain that they'd love to have another member and maybe you could be happy as a lark then. If you find that their organization doesn't live up to your self approved standards then now is a great time to get up from the keyboard and form your own organization and show us what a really good, well run organization is all about eh?

The original poster of this thread has been involved in SPA and I understand his concern regarding the recent electric ruling. There are others who have responded here that participate in the SPA and their voices and posts do matter because they did have a dog in the hunt. Did the SPA make a good decison? I don't know. I think their decision makes more sense than the one they started with. I know many of the SPA leadership well enough to know that they when they make a decision, they still continue to evaluate the issue to see if their decision was good for the organiztion or not. Time will tell and I'm certain that if evidence indicates their decision was a poor one that they will attempt to correct and overcome at some point in the future. For now, I can only hope that those few folks who actually participated in the SPA with electric models will continue to participate with a nitro bird of some sort in 2010. I had the opportunity to meet several of them in Chattanooga and Atlanta and really enjoyed their presence both on and off the flight line.

Cheers all, and Merry Christmas!