Dont know where to start

[Dead Roman]

Hey guys, I have been a long time proponent of glow/gas powered models, but with the recent turn in the economy and watching all the electric guys fly o hassle free I have decided to switch to electric. Currently Im flying mostly 40 sized models, but I have some giant scale projects on the horizon(omp hybrid) that I would like to run electric too. I guess what Im trying to say is I dont know where to start. The only electric I have ever even flows is a little parkflyer my dad flew together, but it flys for like a half hour on a little 3s(i believe) lipo and is a ball to break out pretty much anywhere. I need to catch myself up on the technology and looking through motors,lipos,ecs,chargers.....is just leaving me confused, cause honestly I have no idea how any of this stuff works. Any help you guys can give to help me get a grasp of how to choose my own setups would greatly be appreciated, thank you.

D

[reyn3545]

If you've decided to switch gears away from glow (and I can certainly understand why), give a close look to both gas and electric. The cost of electrics, when you cough up $100+ for a battery that carries you for a 10-minute flight then needs charging, can be pretty expensive...

Ballpark, when you look at a typical 36 - 48 inch wingspan electric, you'll spend about $500 total to get a $100 plane in the air, plus another $100 for each battery... you'll probably want at least 4 or 5 to give you a good day's flying, recharging some of them for two flights during the day.

If you look at gas planes, the initial investment may be a little higher... you'll spend around $1000 to get a .26 sized gasoline plane airborne, but from that point forward, as long as you don't crash, your only expense is gas. Even at $4 a gallon, its comparatively inexpensive, and these planes can manage wind conditions much better than smaller electrics.

As you go up in size, I would think that gas becomes a much less expensive proposition. They can certainly get expensive.. about $5K for a 100cc bird, but I could only imagine what the battery and brushless motor would cost to get a 27 pound electric in the air!

If you want some good "live" advise on electrics, setups, recommended starter planes, etc.. give the guys at atlantahobby.com a call they're probably the largest electric plane dealer in the US, great guys, and their advise is always spot on!

[ericb]

	Quote: Originally Posted by reyn3545
	If you've decided to switch gears away from glow (and I can certainly understand why), give a close look to both gas and electric. The cost of electrics, when you cough up $100+ for a battery that carries you for a 10-minute flight then needs charging, can be pretty expensive... Ballpark, when you look at a typical 36 - 48 inch wingspan electric, you'll spend about $500 total to get a $100 plane in the air, plus another $100 for each battery... you'll probably want at least 4 or 5 to give you a good day's flying, recharging some of them for two flights during the day. If you look at gas planes, the initial investment may be a little higher... you'll spend around $1000 to get a .26 sized gasoline plane airborne, but from that point forward, as long as you don't crash, your only expense is gas. Even at $4 a gallon, its comparatively inexpensive, and these planes can manage wind conditions much better than smaller electrics. As you go up in size, I would think that gas becomes a much less expensive proposition. They can certainly get expensive.. about $5K for a 100cc bird, but I could only imagine what the battery and brushless motor would cost to get a 27 pound electric in the air!

If I were you, I would look into gas as opposed to electric. Gas is cheap to run. No waiting to recharge either.

[Xpress..]

But electrics produce no fumes from burnt gasoline, and is overall cheaper in the loooooooong run.

The best way to get started in electrics is the cheap foamies that are a blast to fly, and will fly on cheapo electronics.

[Al Lewis]

I doubt electric is cheaper in the long run. Those batteries have a life span and then have to be replaced. Batteries for a 30% plane can cost you $2700.00 and don't last forever.

[Quicker]

I've done some pretty big electrics. My suggestion is that for 55" and smaller you can do electric and be cost effective and happy. Above that, skip straight to a gasser and forget the glow. That OMP Hybrid would be great with a DA-50.

Q

[JEFFRO503]

I agree with AL on this. I have looked at both electric and gas in airplanes for 30% - 35% and building a gas plane is much cheaper in the "short" run and the "long" . Mainly because it just hasn't hit big time main stream yet.

One example : If you want to go out and have a really good day of flying on just a 30% electric airplane....lets say 6-8 flights. You'll need at least 6 flight packs , since you'll probably be able to re-use the #1 and possibly the #2 pack by the end of the day. But most of these planes will be setup with a 10 cell ( 10S ) or 12 cell ( 12S ) packs that get quite spendy.

That's about $600.00 - $800.00 PER FLIGHT of batteries you'll need. Plus about a $300.00 Brushless motor ( which is extremely cheap) and about a $300.00 - $400.00 ESC.........

gettin' expensive!


I have done the smaller mid size electrics , the 47" yaks and extras that are balsa and play build up , and they aren't that cheap to build either. I paid any where from $40.00 - $90.00 a battery pack , and needed about 6-7 packs to get a good day of flying in.

PLUS.....they honestly , fly like crap! hehe.......sorry , but they do. Extremely snappy.

I really , really dig the good sized foamies though. You can learn so much on one of those things , and it carries into the bigger planes. I almost always fly my foamie first when i get to the field to warm up with , before i fly the bigger ones.

Word of advice : SKIP the mid size electrics all together. Put yourself together a couple of really good little foamies and have fun. Then , move up into the actual GAS airplanes like a 50cc sized bird. It'll be worth every penny. And besides , you WON'T waste a bunch of your money on the mid sized electrics. trust me....i learned the hard way.

A smaller 50cc gas airplane can be built for around $1500.00. Hell i just saw a used aeroworks katana with a DA-50 installed , all digital hitec servos , ready to fly , minus the receiver for $1295.00 at a local hobby shop. That's a good deal.

[Xpress..]

You have to consider with a charger like the Astro Flight A10 (I think) you can recharge 8-10 cell lipos in about an hour or two. It's really based upon the ammount of current you put into the battery. If you're a chicken, and don't want to charge a 5000 mah lipo at 5 amps, then yeah it's going to take like 4 hours to charge. However, if you do charge it at 5 amps, then you will be set in about and hour or so. Plus that lipo should be good for around 100 flights, if you condition it right.

[ericb]

You can refill your tank and go fly in about 3 minutes. Your gas engine will last for more than 100 flights also.

[mflander]

I agree. I was on a big electric kick for quite some time, but after flying a couple bigger gassers, they just can't be beat. Fill er up and go...

[JEFFRO503]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ericb
	You can refill your tank and go fly in about 3 minutes. Your gas engine will last for more than 100 flights also.

The gas setups are easily the most affordable! 100 flights is pretty conservative really. You can get 30-40 gallons through one of those suckers before you send it in for a check up , and possibly a set of rings or so. There have been guys on here that have gotten 250 - 300 flights on a motor and sent it in for heck of it , to get it checked out.

Like i stated above , the larger electric power 3D type planes are for the future , and even though the prices have dropped considerably , they just aren't quite affordable yet.

Gas i think is more affordable than glow as well.......by a long shot. Some of these gas motors cost about the same as a large glow motor , and your not paying $20.00 - $35.00 a gallon for fuel.


Another thing to mention is this......YES you can recharge those big expensive 10S and 12S packs possibly 100 times.....but each pack cost more than one single gas engine alone. ( 50cc of course ) Buy to large packs , and you could have bought a DA-100 HAHA!!

[Dead Roman]

Ok you guys have talked me out of flying the large scale stuff. I have a few 1/2 a kits and a p-51 from great planes that my be good for electric though. Thank you for all the info guys!!