A response to some comments I've seen on the "realistic combat" thread, and recent publication of 2005 rules change proposals regarding RPM limits for Open B:

Don't slow down the rest of us because technology is leaving you behind. Get creative, practice, build stronger airplanes, and join in. Or, start a new class (like SSC) with more restrictions. Open means "open."

Is the intent to prevent the cost of engines from dominating event outcomes?

So far, winning is not a matter of dollars. It's about strategy, vision, and knowing your equipment (practice).

Of course, good reflexes don't hurt either.

A man who can catch fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything.

(I'm working on a pair of super trick carbon fiber gyro stabilized gps referenced chopsticks, BTW).

It is nice to get a cut on a guy with a Jett when you are running a 25 FX stock. Horsepower is not everything. Yes, it helps, but you still have to practice and get to know your aircraft.

I personally think the RPM restrictions is kind of bogus. Open should mean open. You should be able to spend what ever you want. If you don't want to spend that much, you don't have to. If you feel you won't be competitive go to something like SSC, but you still have a chance. Skill is what you need to be good, not money, but money doesn't hurt.

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I could be wrong, but sometimes I think SSC came along because no one wanted to confront the objections, and hassels of changing B. I sure as hell don't want to create hard feelings, but I think lots of classes is a bad thing. It waters us down. The sport of RC Dog fighting won't grow as quickly, and there will be fewer contests we all can attend.

The pilots with better gear will still have an advantage. That advantage will not be as visable to the casual observer, but more telling in the contests. As things stand now a Jett 30 can unload to 19.8k in flight, turning a 9x5 and it might fly about 15-20 mph faster than my Norvel turning a 9x4 @ 18.8k. According to Dub Jett, his 30's will be happy turning a 10x3 around 18.5k. My Norvels will only turn a 10x3 @ about 16.5k at best. That gives the Jett about 6 mph more speed but the Jett also has double the thrust over my Norvel in that situation. Turning radii will be tighter, the Jetts won't lose speed in turns and will be able to out climb anything that doesn't perform like a Jett. If you put those advantages in the hands of pilot that really knows how to wiggle the sticks, well you know what's going to happen. And if you gave me those advantages, it wouldn't make much difference. So to me it's not a money thing.

Open C can be much faster than open B, and it has to be flown farther out. Farther out is good cause the fliers need more room to turn at those speeds, and the furball is bigger. Maybe that's where pilots who love raw speed should focus their attention.

My primary class is open B. The guys with Jetts and custom machined Irvines fly faster than me. I don't care. My planes are in the upper quarter of the speed and performance envelope. My planes are competitive, even if my skills are not. I still have fun.

Once I read a comment by Jimbo B. where he wished we were all flying Stock Gremlins in one-on-one combat. I agree that is the purist form of RC Combat. A real dogfighters match, but there wouldn't be many rounds in a one on one format. I fly Gremmie Combat. It is the best school for RC ACM. But big Gremmie contests are impossible.

There are already displacement, weight and exhaust restrictions on open B planes. To limit the pitch of the prop is not a great change. I think it would do more to popularize combat than any other simple change. I think it would make combat more affordable (smashed planes and lost equipment) And I think it would make B sized combat more fun.

I'm a proponent of leaving B class alone for the guys that want to churn and burn. I'm also tired of exploding an average of 15-20 airplanes a year. I was one of the instigators of SSC combat. Since last June, I've built 3 SSC airplanes, and they have all seen monthly combat and are all still flying. The origional Spad HOR has been averaging a mid-air per round (that's at least 16 mid-airs) and it's still going. That's why I've gone exclusively to SSC for RCCA combat.

Having a one-size-fits-all class would be great, but try to get everyone to agree on what that would be. The SSC guys would complain about it being too fast. The Open B guys would say it's too slow. The Scale guys would claim it's not scale enough. Nobody would participate...

If we try 3" pitch props that will make the most difference for least effort and arguments. It will reduce the speed potential of all planes by 25% but not the performance differential between engine makes. We don't have to change the scale fidelity rules or add new classes. It would be a hassel for CDs to enforce an rpm rule on a wide variety of engine types. But just having a specified prop would be easy.

There are very few people I have met in RC combat who are nicer than Dean (Tattoo). I am real sorry I won't see him and Sassy at the NATS in Muncie. He will be missed, but that is what happens when you divide your group into smaller components, you don't see some of the folks ya like.

Wow...thanks Mark!...Spads were developed because we didn't have the time or money to keep up with balsa planes in combat...and I didn't have the time or equipment to build foamies when Battle floyds started exploding balsa planes. Along came Spads and started exploding Battle floyds. They had their heyday in 99 and 2000 until carbon fiber/fiberglass/HDPE/kevlar took over. I'll be the first to admit, even building Spads...I couldn't keep up with building/rebuilding 4 or 3 airplanes for each class for every meet. Scale went out the window for me after just one season. It got to the point that the effort outweighed the fun. The very first round of SSC I flew, I had fun again...and that's what I'm after

I'll still be doing C class, but mostly local club meets and Junction City and Misery.

There is nothing I enjoy more than a relaxing weekend of slow stock motor combat on a Gremlin or Predator(.40fp's or Mag.25's)
I would even travel a couple hours to do it. BUT, when I want some fast paced hard fought, stiff competition I want open B, just as it is now. Win lose or draw NOTHING beats the RUSH. There is NO reason in the world we can't have at least one class for people like me that still love the speed of open B. It's the ONLY reason we fly RCCA combat here in Sulphur.
I'll travel up to 8 hours for a B contest and if my job permitted I would travel cost to cost for it. :stupid: