| The sport of model airplane combat has been | | | | survive much better and can often be used for |
| around now for decades and in recent years | | | | other forms of flying.When fighting in the |
| has grown exponentially. The human race is | | | | SSC class, a single round of combat lasts 5 |
| naturally competitive and it's only natural | | | | minutes. You must have a .15 engine and your |
| that modelers are going to find a way to pit | | | | airplane is required to weigh no less than |
| their flying skills against each other.In | | | | 2.5 pounds. There are no restrictions on your |
| combat, competitors tie a lengthy streamer to | | | | airplane's wingspan, but the overall wing |
| the rear of their model, and take to the | | | | area must be at least 400 square inches. All |
| skies in an attempt to cut their opponents | | | | combating RC model airplanes use an |
| streamer with their propeller or wing. | | | | unmodified Master Airscrew 8x3 prop and the |
| Category after category has been created to | | | | maximum allowable RPM is 17,500rpm at |
| allow all sorts of planes to enter combat. | | | | launch. RPM testing is often performed before |
| What used to be reserved for balsa and | | | | combat starts to make sure everyone is |
| ply-wood built planes has now expanded to | | | | conforming to the rules.The other classes of |
| allow for much more durable RC model | | | | combat, Open Classes and Scale, all have |
| airplanes that are even capable of surviving | | | | different rules and restrictions regarding |
| mid-air collisions (sometimes!).Balsa, Foam, | | | | weight, engine, and appearance but the |
| and SPAD model airplanes all take to the | | | | objective of all of them is to ensure that it |
| skies to see who is Top Dog. Combat clubs can | | | | is the skill of the pilot that is being |
| be found in just about every country on the | | | | tested and not the airplane.What all of these |
| planet. The two largest RC model airplane | | | | classes do have in common is some sort of |
| combat associations are the Radio Control | | | | point system. Combat contestants earn points |
| Combat Association (RCCA) and the National | | | | for things such as cutting their opponents |
| Sports Combat Club (NSCC).Just about every | | | | streamers, continuous flying during combat, |
| model airplane combat group has one thing in | | | | launching within the set time limit, as well |
| common. Your model airplane and you | | | | as points for every foot of streamer left |
| competitor's must both fall into the same | | | | when landing. Points can also be deducted for |
| category to make the combat fair. A few | | | | not engaging an opponent in combat. Pilots |
| examples of these classes are; Slow | | | | that avoid fights will be penalized. If your |
| Survivable Combat (SSC), Open Classes, and | | | | model airplane crosses various safety lines |
| Scale. Each of these classes have strict | | | | which define the combat area this will also |
| requirements about the size of the engine | | | | earn penalty deductions.Model airplane combat |
| used, the overall weight of the aircraft, the | | | | whether RC or Control Line can add a very |
| size of the prop, and in some cases even the | | | | exciting element to an already enjoyable |
| shape of the fuselage must conform to the | | | | hobby. So what's holding you back? Give it a |
| rules.At one time model airplane combat got | | | | try, inquire with other flyers at your local |
| pretty fast and furious with high speeds and | | | | flying field. Large combat associations might |
| a high attrition rate as planes ploughed into | | | | have strict rules, but feel free to make up |
| each other and into the ground. The Slow | | | | your own when you set out pit your model |
| Surviveable Class was developed to counter | | | | airplane flying skills against your |
| this tendency and the rules produce a big, | | | | friends.Bruce Bird makes it easy for the |
| slow flying airplane without an excess of | | | | beginner to quickly grasp the broad range of |
| power. As a result, this class is much | | | | exciting activities that make up airplane |
| more suitable for beginners, the models | | | | modeling. |