ORIGINAL: Rendegade
I do recall at one of the world champs, CPLR had ballasted his aircraft to be 5000g.
Why would one do this, if weight was the enemy of flight and performance?
It may depend on what sequence is being flown. For a straight forward sequence (even some FAIflew just a few years back) weight may help in really turbulent conditions. However, the FAIguys I've spoken with are seeing definite advantages with lighter planes flying F-09 and F-11 due to all of the rolling loops, knife edge loops and like maneuvers. Clearly it would be much easier to fly the bottom side of the knife edge loop witha9.5pound plane than one that's 11 pounds.
Keith B