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