Author: Greg Rose
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/12
Page Numbers: 122,124
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RADIO CONTROL COMBAT

Greg Rose 1312 NW 196th St., Edmond OK 73003

Introduction

SSC and Open Class B models are great examples of simplicity of design, which helps their popularity. One aspect I don't often bring up in this column is the variety of RC Combat classes. Most people fly Open B, 2610 Scale, and Slow and Survivable Combat (SSC), so I usually cover those, but several other classes have active participation. Some classes are not widespread but have strong local followings and can offer enjoyable Combat events. Most of these events fit into the National Points System (NPS) for RC Combat and offer a fun challenge and a chance for a little glory.

Sanctioned vs. Friendly Events

Much Combat flying is held at a "friendly" level rather than at an AMA-sanctioned event, so those sorties don't show up in NPS statistics. "Friendly" Combat generally involves a small number of fliers from the same club or locality and uses informal rules based roughly on the AMA RC Combat rules. In many cases, participants will follow the AMA rules exactly so their models—and experience—can be used in sanctioned meets if they choose.

How sorties are counted

It doesn't matter if you are flying full-scale or RC Combat; every flight of each individual aircraft is counted as a sortie. In RC Combat, the RCCA keeps track of each sortie flown in a sanctioned event.

As of September 11, 2004:

  • 48 AMA/RCCA sanctioned events had been held.
  • A total of 5,157 sorties had been flown in those sanctioned events.

By looking at the number of sorties flown in each event, we can get an idea of what people are flying.

Participation by Class (2004 year-to-date)

SSC (Slow and Survivable Combat)

  • SSC is the newest RC Combat class and, at the time of writing, not yet a sanctioned event.
  • Despite that, SSC is by far the most popular: 2,797 SSC sorties have been flown year-to-date.
  • SSC comprises 54% of the Combat flown in sanctioned events—more than any other event and more than all other Combat events combined.

Open Class B

  • Open Class B had 1,729 sorties year-to-date, roughly 33% of sanctioned Combat flown.
  • Participation in Open Class B hasn't dropped much in number of flights; its second-place position is due primarily to the growth of SSC.

Scale RC Combat

There are several Scale classes and related activity:

  1. 2610 (Scale RC Combat)
  • .26 maximum displacement engine and ±10% from 1/12 scale.
  • Nearly all Scale Combat activity is sanctioned as the 2610 event.
  • Year-to-date, 507 sorties have been flown under 2610 rules.
  1. 2105
  • .21 maximum displacement and ±5% from 1/12 scale.
  • All models built for 2105 fit within 2610, but not vice versa.
  • The number of models eligible for 2105 is dwindling; effectively replaced by 2610.
  • No sanctioned 2105 sorties were flown year-to-date.
  1. Proposed 2548 (provisional)
  • .25 maximum displacement and a standard 48-inch wingspan.
  • Demonstrated at several contests; some fliers have suggested making it an official AMA event.
  • Proposed rules include "scaleness" as a scoring factor to promote models that actually look like full-scale airplanes.
  • This addresses a common complaint that some 2610 models lack scaleness and can outcompete well-made scale models.
  • Overall, Scale Combat events still account for approximately 10% of Combat rounds flown each year.

Other Open Classes

Open category classes beyond B include:

  • Open Class 1/2A
  • .061 maximum displacement, 2-pound maximum weight.
  • No sanctioned events in 2004 (largely flown at club level as nonsanctioned events).
  • Open Class A
  • .15 maximum displacement, 2.5-pound maximum weight.
  • 88 sorties flown year-to-date.
  • Open Class C
  • .47 maximum displacement, 5-pound maximum weight.
  • 35 sorties flown year-to-date.

These sanctioned numbers are somewhat misleading because:

  • 1/2A Combat is commonly flown nonsanctioned at the club level.
  • Open Class C likely has more activity than the sanctioned numbers suggest.
  • The relative rankings are correct for sanctioned events, but not all activity is held in sanctioned rule-book contests.

Informal and Electric Combat

A fair amount of RC Combat activity today takes place in completely informal events. Since HobbyZone introduced its Sonic Combat Module for its electric Firebird and other designs, one-on-one RC Combat—often between family members—has enjoyed popularity despite having no sanctioned event for those models.

  • The limited two-channel performance of many of these models has reduced their appeal among traditional RC Combat fliers.
  • A newer, higher-performance three-channel model, the F-27 Stryker, has been released with the X-Port required for the Sonic Combat Module. With a third control dimension available, designs like the Stryker may find broader acceptance among RC Combat pilots.

Other Developments

I haven't even touched on other RC Combat developments due to space:

  • World War I Combat
  • Jet-age Combat
  • Growing interest in RC Combat Slope Soaring

Until next time, build straight, fly safely, and always check your six! MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.