Weight limit discussion

[BUDDYonRC at aol.com]

Weight Limit Rules Discussion 
Following is my consolidation of information and comments  received on this 
subject that I have used to form my opinion on this  subject. 
First a few opinions, facts, descriptions, logic and  general guidelines that 
I have obtained from talking to many experienced pattern  pilots, designers 
and builders that could effect the understanding of the  requirements of 
design, construction and participation critical to the long term  growth and well 
being of the pattern community.  I have used these to put the subject at  hand 
in the proper prospective. 
    1.  A two-meter pattern airplane is  not required to compete successfully 
in Sportsman and  Intermediate. 
    2.  A properly trimmed aircraft is  required for all classes. 
    3.  It is less difficult to be  successful in all classes if you are 
flying an airplane designed specifically  for pattern. 
    4.  Skill and practice are more  important than utilizing the latest 
state of the art design to achieve success  and gain a competitive advantage in 
competition. 
    5.  Light flies better. 
    6.  The optimum wing loading for a  pattern aircraft is one pound per one 
hundred square inches of wing  area. 
    7.  Weight exceeding the optimum wing  loading is a disadvantage. 
    8.  Increasing the weight of an  aircraft will increase the power 
requirement exponentially. 
    9.  A state of the art, latest design  is not required to be competitive 
in any AMA class.  
    10. Most state of the art airplanes  were designed for competition in the 
FAI class. 
    11. An airplane designed for pattern will  be more competitive than a 
smaller airplane even if it is somewhat over  weight. 
    12. An increase in the weight limit to  twelve pounds may level the 
playing field between IC and electric powered  pattern aircraft. 
    13. If the weight limit were increased to  twelve pounds someone at some 
future date may find a way to gain an advantage  in competition. 
    14. Most new designs are the results  of the ever-changing requirements 
of the FAI pattern. 
    15. Changing the weight limit to twelve  pounds will make more pattern 
legal airplanes available at a lower  cost. 
    16. Changing the weight limit to  twelve pounds will not affect the 
current trend in pattern design it will only  make more airplanes AMA legal. And 
reduce the cost. 
    17. If the two-meter size limit is  maintained most top competition 
pilots will still be designing, building and  flying airplanes of optimum design 
weighing on an average of ten pounds four  ounces. 
    18. The two-meter size limit should be  the only rule required to 
maintain pattern design at the present level into  the future even if the weight 
limit is increased to twelve pounds. 
    19. Lowering the cost requirements may  attract more people to pattern. 
    20. Increasing the weight limit to  twelve pounds may ultimately result 
in larger aircraft, make all current state  of the art airplanes obsolete and 
increase the cost  
    21. Twenty to thirty percent of all  pattern planes flown in local 
contests are over the eleven-pound weight  limit. 
    22. More people may fly pattern if  they can use an ARF that is in the 
lower price range. 
    23. Cheaper versions of pattern  capable ARF’s end up slightly over 
weight. 
    24. Raising the weight limit may  increase Nat’s participation. 
    25. Reducing the weight of a pattern  plane that is slightly over weight 
could cost several hundred dollars if  lighter weight equipment must be used. 
    26. Average cost for the latest state  of the art pattern airplane is 
about twenty-five hundred dollars. 
    27. Many pattern pilots and some who  would like to fly pattern cannot 
afford the cost of the latest state of the  art pattern airplane. 
    28. Flying pattern has become an  exclusive event. 
    29. In order to increase pattern  participation the pattern community 
must adopt methods to make it an inclusive  event. 
    30. In AMA pattern a suitable design  contributes ten percent to the 
pilots success, and practice the other ninety  percent. 
    31. Most current state of the art  designs have a wing span less than two 
meters and less than eleven hundred  square inches in area. 
    32. Increasing the weight limit to  twelve pounds may result in reducing 
current participation. 
    33. Increasing the weight limit to  twelve pounds may result in increased 
participation. 
    34. The eleven-pound weight rule is  not a rule that was added to the 
pattern rules as a design limit, This rule  dates back many years and was adopted 
by FAI to define model aircraft and set  the requirements for setting world 
records.  
    35. Many AMA rules set minimum weight  limits to eliminate a performance 
advantage. 
    36. The only maximum weight rules  required by AMA were added to maintain 
safety. 
    37. Raising the weight limit to twelve  pounds will not pose a safety 
issue and in fact may increase the margin of  safety. 
    38. Due to the necessity to build  light, failures have occurred when 
weight was considered more important and  strength of the airframe was 
jeopardized to meet the weight limit. 
    39. When the rules were changed in the  past participation went down. 
    40. There are pilots who would attend  the Nat’s simply for the Nat’s 
experience but wont due to the fact that the  airplane they fly in local events 
is overweight and they would be  disqualified. 
    41. Weight rules are not enforced at  local contests. 
    42. Pattern rules are illegitimate it  is widely known and accepted that 
a double standard exists and if enforced  participation would be reduced 
drastically.
Buddy Brammer   

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