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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Interesting point - but I don't think it really
applies to pattern because of HUGE difference between pylon and pattern - pylon
has a displacement limit, pattern doesn't. In pattern adding weight will
not level the playing field or allow the heavy planes to compete (at the rare
contests where weight is checked) - because the engines will also get bigger,
and the planes have plenty of room to get bigger (the bipe you mention).
My bet would be that the "new" bipes would develop and evolve and push the
weight limit - until the weight limit was raised until at least 16+ pounds -
adding weight to the big bipe beyond that would start to become counter
productive - just like adding weight to an 11 lb current day pattern
model.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You are absolutely correct that hindsight clearly
shows the resulting unintended consequences of multiple iterations of rule
changes that ultimately lead to the larger more expensive models. I find
it rather interesting that people seem to have no qualms about implementing new
rules that will obsolete the current equipment - but only when the new rule
allows escalation and not the other way around.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dave</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jpavlick@idseng.com href="mailto:jpavlick@idseng.com">John
Pavlick</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 23, 2005 9:44
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: FAI Weight Thread</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005>Guys,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005> Has anyone looked at any Pylon racing forums?
They have a MINIMUM weight requirement. Everyone works DOWN to achieve the
goal. Guess what they're arguing about? The same thing that we are - they want
to raise the weight limit to allow more planes to be competitive. The
reasoning is that some of the ARFs are heavier than MINIMUM weight (sound
familiar?). They figure that by adding weight to light airplanes to make them
"legal", while leaving the heavy ones alone, everyone will be even again. The
points and counterpoints are exactly the same ones we have.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005> The problem we're having is because everyone
knows the RIGHT thing to do (I think), but it's too late. If the rules were
worded differently from the beginning, we wouldn't be discussing this now. It
would not be a good idea to make someone's airplane illegal overnight (make
the glow fuel weight include fuel) even though it's technically the correct
thing to do. Keep in mind the new rules don't go into effect immediately. In
retrospect, I think as long as the size is limited, the weight will stay in
line because we're all trying to build lighter airplanes, aren't we? The down
side of limiting just the si</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>ze and not the weight
of course has one loophole: biplanes. Think about it. Speak now or deal with
it later...</FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005> Now would probably be a good time to look at
your plane and see if you can lighten it up SAFELY. The worst thing that will
happen is it might fly a little better. If 99% of us could make weight with a
full tank, it might put an end to this for a while. Maybe this isn't even
possible today, but by the time the rules go into effect, it probably
will be.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN class=230273201-24022005>
<P><FONT size=2>John Pavlick<BR><A href="http://www.idseng.com/"
target=_blank>http://www.idseng.com</A><BR> </FONT>
</P></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=230273201-24022005> </SPAN>-----Original
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> discussion-request@nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Ed
Miller<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 23, 2005 6:43 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
discussion@nsrca.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: FAI Weight
Thread<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5.5Kg or by my calculations 12 pounds 1+ ounce
is fine for glow with fuel and electric with batteries. If that levels the
playing field, if it needs leveling, those are numbers I can live with. In
fact at 12 pounds, a conventional glass/foam/balsa/ply large 2 meter plane (
like the EMC ) can be built with electric power and make weight. But I
wonder do we really need to mess with the weight issue ?? There was a time I
was all for raising the 5Kg limit, not so anymore. Although the prospect of
building an E power EMC is enticing. The real issue is do we ( USA AMA )
continue to follow FAI should they adopt an absurd rule that obsoletes
all our toys overnight ??? I hope not. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ed
M.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>