[NSRCA-discussion] Airplane Weight

[Ronald Van Putte]

Something has been nagging me since the 2011 F3A World Championships.  The decision was made, over the objections of the official weighers (John Fuqua and me), that airplanes would be allowed to weigh 1% more than the listed maximum weight of 50000gm, or 50gm.

The argument was that it “allowed for possible inconsistencies in measuring equipment”.  We objected because we had purchased calibration weights and had them verified by the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory on Eglin AFB (at the cost of a sixpack of beer per set of calibration weights).  That meant we knew exactly what the airplanes weighed.

Now to the current situation.  Currently, AMA classes have a 1% weight tolerance, or 50gm.  Suppose a contestant’s model actually weighs 5050gm, but the weighing equipment is in error by 25 grams.  So the scales would measure the contestant’s airplane at 5075gm.  Remember that the 15 allowance is for "possible inconsistencies in measuring equipment”.  The contestant’s airplane is “too heavy”.

Something to think about.

Ron Van Putte