Before we trash 2M entirely, Les made some good points. - Newbies almost always show up with a 2M,
- It's a neat little compact size for fun flying and low level work, - It doesn't take nearly as much paraphernalia at the field to have a good time, - A used HLG/DLG fits the 2M class - try strapping on a hook and fly 'Hiss n Boink' and see what happens, - If you've ever had your butt waxed by someone flying a GL, you know that cost and complexity aren't the only thing that wins. About the only thing I can fly locally is 2M - it fits my little sport winch and the local athletic field. It can be launched all day long using the motorcycle battery/winch that I can carry out with one hand (when you hit 60 or so, lugging stuff out of the truck becomes an issue). An open class ship drains the battery dry in about 6 launches. That said, does 2M have a place in competition events? For fun fly type stuff for people starting out, I think so. Apparently this format is quite popular (H n B). For all out TD competition, it's at a disadvantage. Bigger DOES fly better. Probably the same reason STD class faded out a few years ago. However, there is some attraction to flying a class limit - maybe it's not the best thermal size but it does help level the playing field just a bit. If 'progress' dictates that 2M as a class has gotta go, maybe we should expend a little positive energy to figure out what would replace it. I'm not keen on creating another class that's going to lead to more expensive ships. 2M can be an 'entry-level' competition event if it's represented that way. I'm of the opinion that cost and complexity are inhibiting some folks from competing (the participation issue that's been raised before). If 2M (or a replacement class of some sort) were represented as a fun event (Joe's comments) that didn't drive cost too hard, would it be a better format? The last couple of folks I've taught to fly just shrug and make no comment about my open class ships. But they light up a lot more at a 2M electric and/or DLG. The step from entry to open class is just too big and the launch equipment is too demanding. If you're a big club (are there any left?) with lots of support, that's fine. But there are a lot of folks out in the boonies that are interested and need something to bridge the gap from startup into club and regional events. So let's be a little cautious before we dis 2M too much. - Dave R RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
