[EricH]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I don't know...I refuse to believe that this falls under the catch-all "but it's part of the challenge". I'm going to guess 80-90% of the teams are using the same Viair 90C compressor because that's what makes economical sense to them. There are some teams who have the money and are willing to spend it on any advantage they can get, and do with the Thomas compressor. Most teams are not willing to spend that much on a compressor, so that right there is an advantage to teams with more to spend.

But due to the system restrictions (Cv, tube size, pressure, and any other constraints that are or have been applied), that more expensive compressor provides minimal advantage at the point of use--that is, at the cylinders. Sure, it might generate the air faster, and keep the stored pressure up more, and stay cooler, but once the air hits the regulator from 120 PSI to 60 PSI, all that advantage goes away at the working end of the system. I think that's why the compressor restrictions eased, and the air storage restrictions eased: Because those don't affect what happens at the working end of the system nearly as much as the other restrictions inherent in the rules. Guess what? If a team isn't a heavy air user, the Viair does make a lot of sense, both financially and from an engineering standpoint, because it doesn't need to do as much work as if the team is a heavy air user, constantly draining their tanks.

Now imagine if FIRST allowed larger-diameter tubing. I think we'd see a sudden run on the Thomas compressors, and suddenly every team that could afford them would be running them. Why? Because now you need more air faster. Lots more air, lots faster, and if the Viair compressors can't keep up, then it makes sense to use better compressors.