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