[NSRCA-discussion] Weight

[Bill's Email]

 What everyone is dancing around here is the fact that the 5 kg (+/- 11 
pound) weight limit is a completely arbitrary number that has no 
foundation in anything other than FAI used to have this limit for all RC 
models. In FAI being at or below 5 kg was what defined you as a radio 
controlled "model" airplane.

Here is the weight rule for F3B gliders:

5.3.1.3. Characteristics of Radio Controlled Gliders F3B
a) Maximum flying mass ........................................ 5 kg

F3J Gliders:

5.6.1.3. Characteristics of Radio Controlled Gliders
a) Maximum Flying Mass .................................. 5 kg

F3F Slope RAcing Gliders:

5.F.2. Characteristics of Radio Controlled Slope Gliders
Maximum flying mass ........................................ 5 kg

F3C helis are now 6 KG so even the FAI can change their minds.

Point being is that the 5 kg "limit" has no real life basis beyond what 
was in the FAI sporting code at the time the AMA rules were written. FAI 
was not looking at all the convoluted logic about cost, etc. At the time 
that was simply how they defined (and still do for many RC events) what 
a model airplane is.