Radio Control: Aerobatics
ARE WE EVER in for some changes! Thanks to Tony Stillman, the United States team manager at the 1993 World Championships in Austria, we have the following news: The FAI rule committee met recently and recommended rule changes to the complete FAI body. Since the rules committee recommendations are almost always accepted by the larger body, these probably will be, too. The proposed FAI rules for 1996 through 1999 will be the same as what is in the FAI Sporting Code now, except that there will be a two-meter wingspan limit, a two-meter fuselage length limit, and engine displacement will be unlimited.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
THIS IS THE JANUARY 1994 issue, but it sure doesn't feel like it. It's just before Labor Day weekend as this is being written. You should be reading it around the first of December. I always miss wishing everyone Merry Christmas, because I never think about Christmas in early September. Not this year! For some reason, the idea popped in my head. So, to everyone out there: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
THE POTENTIAL rules change proposal to penalize four-stroke 1.20 users has resulted in more mail than I've ever received (except perhaps for mail concerning the downwind turn). Four-stroke users have been uniformly indignant that such a thing could be considered. Their virtually unanimous response has been that pilot ability and practice are more important than engine power in determining a winner. I don't have any argument with that; I'm sure it's correct. However, I do claim that a four-stroke 1.20 engine gives a competitive edge over two-stroke engines.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
THE TITLE of this column is "Radio Control Aerobatics." That connotes some obvious subject material, so I wasn't really surprised when I received a letter from Ira Rosner (13234 104th Terrace, Miami, FL 33186), who is editor of Scale Aerobatics, the newsletter of the International Miniature Acrobatic Club (IMAC). Here are some excerpts from Ira's letter: "To the uninitiated, IMAC, which gets its inspiration from the International Aerobatic maneuver schedules largely identical to those prepared by the IAC for full-size competition. Those maneuver schedules change each year, and contests generally feature a round of `unknowns' for the top two classes, in which the pilot receives the maneuver schedule on the morning of the competition.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
NOW that the first few contests of the year are history, it has become apparent that some changes are necessary. That shouldn't really be surprising. We went from a set of maneuver schedules that were mostly nonturnaround format to a new set that are mostly turnaround format. There were bound to be some problems on the first try, and there are. The rules change procedures will take care of the changes eventually. Unfortunately, it will be almost two years until their effects will be felt.
