Are gyros allowed in scale competition? Either AMA, scale masters or top gun?

They use to not be; there use to be Scale Heli class. The AMA does not like to mix. I bet if it was a great model TG could be talked into it.

Gyros are typically allowed, although only on the rudder/steering control.

From Scale Masters rule book

14. A gyro may be used on rudder control only.

From the Top Gun rule book

A. Rate gyros are allowed to aid in rudder and steering control only. Rate gyros are NOT
allowed to aid the control of ANY other surface or function.

Not sure about the NATS but I would be surprised if they were not allowed in Scale.

I do remember way back when, when it was being debated. I was just wondering what had happened with it. That might just help with the WW1 aircraft I fly.

Actually the Top Gun rule is thus...

All modern jet aircraft have computer-controlled flight surfaces, in fact some would be darn near unflyable without them. So I don't see why jet models shouldn't use a full complement of avionics. In terms of other models, I'm curious why people would feel that gyro is acceptable on the rudder but not on other controls. To me the only argument would be that our models are somehow more sensitive on the rudder than the full-scale aircraft were. And anyway, if you're going to ban gyros, you might as well ban mixing as well.

I thought you were talking about autogyros!

Probably nothing wrong with it - personal choice.

But fitting all kinds of gadgets to any RCplane to make it fly "by itself" raises the question - what is the difference then between doing this outside and flying a plane on a computer simulator in your house? Getting an expensivetan perhaps?

Cheers
Bundu

The things with some modern jet designs is that they are inherently unstable. And it's only thanks to computer-aided flight surfaces that any human pilot (even a skilled one) can fly them at all. Without the computer-aided flight surfaces, the aircraft would need to be redesigned for better control that that greater stability would take away from the aircraft's fighting performance.

My opinion is that if TopGun allows them, then they are just part of the hobby and there's no sense arguing about it. I just don't (and wouldn't) use them on my WWI models, mostly because I'm just too cheap and lazy.

Abufletcher, yes, I agree.

Looking at the lighter side, it is almost like the funny stories/video clipsabout "wannabe bad ass looking" accountants and lawyers thatbuys Harleys, even though they need side wheels to prevent them falling over....

Cheers

Bundu