So, what is the current attitude? Is anyone doing a survey to decide on the rules, or, perhaps is there a CD who will make the decision. Since I live on the Left Coast (way too far left, but let's not get into that) I can only relate my experience in trying to make small plane flying happen here. The pros won't fly it "because it takes too much time at a contest or it will throw off my timing or they don't fly right or whatever excuse they can come up with".
The only success we have had is to open it up to 1cc and have one separate event a year at the Toys for Tots in December. Even then, the participation is pitiful. Breaks my heart, I tell you. The planes fly great, and it could be a good event, but getting flyers seems hopeless. Obviously, I have been a small model fan all my life and would love to see this event succeed.
Whatever you guys do, make it as all inclusive as you can!
Short list of competitive available kits:
Brodak Baby Clown (Kit, ARC and ARF)
Brodak Baby Flite Streak (Nostalgia at it's best! Find an Atwood Shriek for power, or not.)
Brodak Baby Lightning Streak
Brodak Stork (in my experience, impossible to build so badly it won't fly great)
SIG 1/2A Skyray (Sheet wing design, but you would never know. You can refuel to fly through the whole pattern, been there, done that, won!)
RSM Sky Sport (yes,it is my design, but Bart Klapinsky did a 498 with it on his first flight with it!)
RSM Pinto (Actually, Dee Rice Baby Oriental)
RSM Tercel (slightly scaled up version of the multiple Nationals winner by Keith Trostle)
Eric also has a couple of more kits that could be competitive, but my memory fails me at the moment.
Also available from RSM on special order:
Sky Streak forward swept flying wing (my design, but dang, it looks cool in the air and turns sharp and smooth. See my Ikon)
Baby Magician (Really a great design! My 1/2 A adaptation of Jim Silhavey's superb model (as originally designed, not as kitted, I have the letter to prove it!). With a hopped up .061 on pressure feed Antone Kepart flies it like a big one on 50' lines. With a stock engine on shorter lines it is still a winner.)
Profile Baby Oriental
1/2 A Still Stuka
60 years of magazine designs and older kits like the 1/2 A Snapper, Baby Barnstormer, Wee Duper Zilch, Mini Zilch, Top Flite 1/2A Mustang etc. series! Shucks, the whole small Brodak fleet can be made to go through a pattern, and most of them, like the Swe'Pea could also be flown in 1/2 A scale. There are so many models that can do a pattern, you should have several just to have them. Cheap and don't take up much room.
And (the designer modestly admits) Eric has the best 1/2A handle available.
I think there are some more models of competitive quality out there, so let you guys add to the list!
Also, we sill need information on what competitive engines are realistically available. I would go with the Norvel, Tee Dee, Medallion, and ASP, but if you are willing to do the refuel thing The Golden Bee, Black Widow, and (lots of luck finding one) Venom will pull a model quite nicely. If you are a glutton for punishment, the PAW diesels will do the job really well.
Sadly, my experience with the Fox .049 was a disaster (multiple crashes despite much experimentation). The Brodak Mk 1 can be made to run well (do a search for details). Cubs can be made to crank the r's with minor modifications (see the Engine Set up Thread). Holland Hornets will certainly put out the power, but I have no stunt experience with them, probably need pressure feed. The Atwood Shriek will pull through the maneuvers just fine in my experience. Atwood Wasps are pretty anemic, but also reliable. Tee Dees need a lot of practice and experimentation go get working right, but crank out the power (The car head heat sink and pressure feed seem to be the trick).
Let's hear it about what you have found to work!