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Super Plank started in 2015 with Merv Bell and his Sundancer.

Sundancer was a very successful combat model that Merv campaigned in the ’60s & 70s. It was different to the flying wings of the day as it had a full fuselage and was double flapped like a stunt model. Merv used Super Tigre 2.5cc engines in them. At Merv’s suggestion we made the Sundancer the ‘Model of the Meet” for 2015. It was also decided that the only model that could be used for Plank Racing that year was the Sundancer. That upped the ante considerably as here was a model that could easily perform the manoeuvres and at speed. Not all pilots were comfortable with such a high performance model and some did not compete. But the Sundancer made the event really exciting for spectators and participants alike. It was obvious that Super Plank, as it became known, was a hit and should be flown again. The upshot was that the ever popular Cowra Plank race was reinstated for 2016 and Super Plank was added as a seperate event. That formula has been flown ever since making for an exciting spectacle on Sunday mornings at Oily Hand.

The model rules (or lack of them) encourage participants to find an aerobatic model that suits their style. Occasionally the control line model of the meet is the only model that can be flown or the pilot is awarded a percentage bonus for flying that model. About the only model that is banned are all out flying wing combat models, mainly because the would ruin the spirit in which plank racing is flown. The schedule of manoeuvres is more demanding than for Cowra Plank and can be found here in the rules Plank Racing Rules – generic