The sport of model airplane combat has been around
now for decades and in recent years has grown exponentially. The human
race is naturally competitive and it's only natural that modelers are
going to find a way to pit their flying skills against each other.
In combat, competitors tie a lengthy streamer to
the rear of their model, and take to the skies in an attempt to cut
their opponents streamer with their propeller or wing. Category after
category has been created to allow all sorts of planes to enter combat.
What used to be reserved for balsa and ply-wood built planes has now
expanded to allow for much more durable RC model airplanes that are
even capable of surviving mid-air collisions (sometimes!).
Balsa, Foam, and SPAD model airplanes all take to
the skies to see who is Top Dog. Combat clubs can be found in just
about every country on the planet. The two largest RC model airplane
combat associations are the Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA) and
the National Sports Combat Club (NSCC).
Just about every model airplane combat group has
one thing in common. Your model airplane and you competitor's must both
fall into the same category to make the combat fair. A few examples of
these classes are; Slow Survivable Combat (SSC), Open Classes, and
Scale. Each of these classes have strict requirements about the size of
the engine used, the overall weight of the aircraft, the size of the
prop, and in some cases even the shape of the fuselage must conform to
the rules.
At one time model airplane combat got pretty fast
and furious with high speeds and a high attrition rate as planes
ploughed into each other and into the ground. The Slow Surviveable
Class was developed to counter this tendency and the rules produce a
big, slow flying airplane without an excess of power. As a result, this
class is much more suitable for beginners, the models survive much
better and can often be used for other forms of flying.
When fighting in the SSC class, a single round of
combat lasts 5 minutes. You must have a .15 engine and your airplane is
required to weigh no less than 2.5 pounds. There are no restrictions on
your airplane's wingspan, but the overall wing area must be at least
400 square inches. All combating RC model airplanes use an unmodified
Master Airscrew 8x3 prop and the maximum allowable RPM is 17,500rpm at
launch. RPM testing is often performed before combat starts to make
sure everyone is conforming to the rules.
The other classes of combat, Open Classes and
Scale, all have different rules and restrictions regarding weight,
engine, and appearance but the objective of all of them is to ensure
that it is the skill of the pilot that is being tested and not the
airplane.
What all of these classes do have in common is
some sort of point system. Combat contestants earn points for things
such as cutting their opponents streamers, continuous flying during
combat, launching within the set time limit, as well as points for
every foot of streamer left when landing. Points can also be deducted
for not engaging an opponent in combat. Pilots that avoid fights will
be penalized. If your model airplane crosses various safety lines which
define the combat area this will also earn penalty deductions.
Model airplane combat whether RC or Control Line
can add a very exciting element to an already enjoyable hobby. So
what's holding you back? Give it a try, inquire with other flyers at
your local flying field. Large combat associations might have strict
rules, but feel free to make up your own when you set out pit your
model airplane flying skills against your friends.
Article Source: http://
www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/discover-the-
thrill-of-model-airplane-combat-31643.html About the Author
Bruce Bird makes it easy for the beginner to
quickly grasp the broad range of exciting activities that make up
airplane modeling. To get you started flying so that you can get into model
airplane combat
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