Tony,
Hope you had a good day of flying...too cold here for that....let alone the 35+ mph winds.
IF you actually read the full breadth of what I've written, you would see I am not concluding "damned if we do and damned if we don't". IF you considered outcomes other than what you specifically want to happen (cheaper pattern, which I think everyone would like), you just might see other potential outcomes. If the weight limit were reduced to 4.5 kg (which I have never proposed), I bet the first thing that would happen is substantial numbers of IC and electric flyers would leave the event.
With regard to the IMAC cost comparisons.....they show how similar dimensions but higher weights can result in higher costs (to have equivalent performance). They show how cost increases to be competitive at the highest levels of competition. So far as comparing an IMAC 50cc ARF for $600 and a $400 gas engine to a 2M pattern plane, I don't see this as valid at all. At that price, the IMAC style plane will have far less thrust per pound, less speed, and be much louder than a 2M pattern plane. To equal the 2M pattern plane, you'd have to spend at least as much money - the extra weight and drag of the larger plane (in volume, not necessarily length and span) will require more power to get equivalent performance, nothing more than physics at work.
Donatas used a relatively high KV AXI and 6S for his WAG winning EF Extra, and the routines are aeromusical freestyle - very different power demands than pattern. EF makes some great planes, and I'm sure the Vanquish 2M will fly well and be <11 lbs with the recommended setup. No doubt it will be good for pattern.
Regards,
Dave Lockhart
ORIGINAL: TonyF
Boy, you go flying for a day and look at what you've got when you get back!
Dave says if we increase weight we will increase expense. I don't see how that is in any way a correct prediction. Say, with the current 2-meter rule we made the weight limit 4.5Kg. What would happen to costs? Of course they would go much higher. So if we buy into Dave's theory that higher weight would only lead to higher costs, then were damned if we do and damned if we don't. I don't accept that. It is only reasonable to assume that if our 2-meter models could weigh more then they could be less expensive.
As to all the IMAC comparisons, the only legitimate comparison is in the 50cc class of models. You can buy IMAC 50cc ARF airframes for $600. Equip it with pretty much the same radio gear as in a 2-meter pattern model. Then put in a $400 gas engine and you're ready to compete. You have much less money into it then a 2-meter pattern model. It probably weighs 16-17-18 pounds. Now if it had a maximum weight limit of 12 pounds, what do you think it would cost. Of course, much more. To compare a pattern model to a 120'' IMAC model is comparing apples to oranges.
And then of course you have the basic inequality of weighing the different power systems in different states of flight worthiness. An unfair situation that in itself is a good reason to change the current rules.