Best electric IMAC plane?

[eajohnson]

Hey guys, we don't have any 'emac' activity here, I'm a dedicated electric flyer competing in IMAC basic this year and will move to sportsman next year and get a bit more serious about it. I need a new plane (currently flying a $115 Hyperion Chipmunk 70e (64") quite successfully I might add - you'd be surprised) Anyway I figure who would know better what the ultimate electric powered plane would be to compete against the 40%+ gassers, than the folks who fly EMAC?

So what are your opinions? Anyone know of any super light construction big(ish) planes that will be a minimal handicap against the big boys for sportsman? If you had no EMAC and were 100% dedicated to electric, what would be your weapon of choice to compete in IMAC, with 3D performance being not a consideration at all, the purpose of the plane will be purely for aerobatic competition and nothing else.

[gdryer]

I am flying the Hangar 9 Sukhoi 33% (electric) in the North West IMAC division. I am also in Basic but plan to move up to Sportsman. Glad to meet another electric IMACer.

Below is a link to my build thread.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=933906

[lazyboyflyer]

I fly EMAC with my 3DHS 89" AJ Slick, it flys really well and I think it's the best 50cc plane period. But, if I want to fly IMAC with an electric plane, bigger is better. I would fly a plane at least the size of Greg's Hanger 9 33% Sukhoi or a Hanger 9 35% Extra 260. Size matters!

[BoneDoc]

In this size order from 3DHobbyShop

103" Extra 330 SC
89" Slick
70" Slick (pre-order).

What's the power system you are running? What batteries are you running? It sounds like it would be a drop fit for the 70" Slick. I've flown mine on 6S 5000, and the 70" Slick flies much like one of the top design 50cc out there.

[danielph]

Extreme Flight 88" Extra 300 all the way! You won't find a better plane for IMAC in that size!

Josh, have you counted the threads that we do this same thing - EF vs. 3DH? LOL ;-) They're all awesome, I just love the Extra 300. ;-) You can't go wrong with either!

Have fun!

[eajohnson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by gdryer
	I am flying the Hangar 9 Sukhoi 33% (electric) in the North West IMAC division. I am also in Basic but plan to move up to Sportsman. Glad to meet another electric IMACer. Below is a link to my build thread. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=933906

I'm always glad to see others flying electric in IMAC. Last weekend at Stoney Creek ON there were 11 pilots in basic of which four were electrics. I think the biggest of these was an 89" Yak. There was no representation of electric in sportsman and up. We may be able to sneak up on 'em, they'll never hear us coming.

[eajohnson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by lazyboyflyer
	I fly EMAC with my 3DHS 89" AJ Slick, it flys really well and I think it's the best 50cc plane period. But, if I want to fly IMAC with an electric plane, bigger is better. I would fly a plane at least the size of Greg's Hanger 9 33% Sukhoi or a Hanger 9 35% Extra 260. Size matters!

Yep, that's what I'm coming to realize. Size does seem to matter. I did really well with my little Chipmunk, I was able to beat the fellow flying a 42% Dietrich Slick when the winds were modest, but in very high crosswinds I had to work far harder than he did, I did well but first place just not realistic with a small plane in those conditions. I need enough plane where it won't be the plane that keeps me at the bottom of sportsman next year, just lack of skills (which will certainly be evident as I move up, but I will practice!)

I'll have to take a look at some of the 30-33% conversions that people have done and see whether that's a realistic option for me in terms of cost and transportation etc. I'm aware of some nice motors from Scorpion, Hyperion, Plettenberg that should do well with aircraft in that size range.

[eajohnson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BoneDoc
	In this size order from 3DHobbyShop 103" Extra 330 SC 89" Slick 70" Slick (pre-order). What's the power system you are running? What batteries are you running? It sounds like it would be a drop fit for the 70" Slick. I've flown mine on 6S 5000, and the 70" Slick flies much like one of the top design 50cc out there.

Right now I have a ton (well, maybe 10 or 12) 5S/5000mAh packs, that's mainly what I run, 5S in small planes like the Chipmunk and 10S in 1/4 scale-ish planes. So some of my options are to just use different packs (do what ya gotta do and grimace at the cost), or go to 15S/5000mAh or 15S/10000mAh, possibly combining with adding 2S or 3S/5000mAh packs that use the same cells in series to get higher volts. I would think that for instance a 15S/10000mAh cluster could deliver a wallop for reasonable duration on a good sized plane. But I haven't really looked into it closely yet.

[Wild Thang]

3D Hobby Shop Slick is totally BA... Thats what i'd get. The EF 300 is a good airplane, but small. The Slick's fuse is HUGE and is made to be setup as an electric.

I have a 33% Wild Hare 260 (old version) and it's the straightest flying 100cc class plane i've flown yet. No coupling issues at all, but it does have a short tail and will get pushed around in the wind a bit more than most. This a totally un-bias oppinion, i've flown alot of planes. I did bend that UGLY gear it came with to suit my likeing... It would be an EASY electric conversion with the way it's setup inside.

Heres a vid:

YouTube - Matt Thomas Flys 3D

[eajohnson]

The 89" 3DH Slick looks really affordable that's for sure (probably half the cost or less), but how much difference between that and a 33% plane in terms of IMAC performance for Sportsman? I'm not too worried about looking beyond Sportsman right now, I have a lot to learn.

[lazyboyflyer]

If your going with a 50cc airframe for IMAC, I highly recommend the 3DHS 89" AJ Slick.

[exeter_acres]

	Quote: Originally Posted by eajohnson
	Hey guys, we don't have any 'emac' activity here, I'm a dedicated electric flyer competing in IMAC basic this year and will move to sportsman next year and get a bit more serious about it. I need a new plane (currently flying a $115 Hyperion Chipmunk 70e (64") quite successfully I might add - you'd be surprised) Anyway I figure who would know better what the ultimate electric powered plane would be to compete against the 40%+ gassers, than the folks who fly EMAC? So what are your opinions? Anyone know of any super light construction big(ish) planes that will be a minimal handicap against the big boys for sportsman? If you had no EMAC and were 100% dedicated to electric, what would be your weapon of choice to compete in IMAC, with 3D performance being not a consideration at all, the purpose of the plane will be purely for aerobatic competition and nothing else.

what size are you thinking?
how many cell packs are you looking at?
do you have a budget?

heck any 40% airframe can be electric if you have the budget

so, what are YOU looking for?

[eajohnson]

Do I have a budget? Yes, well, not being independently wealthy I guess I do. I wouldn't want to spend more than three and a half grand, and if I could spend closer to 2 than 3 that would make me happy. A smaller plane such as the 89" Slick has a lot of nice things going for it - cheap batteries, cheap ESC, possibility to use single servos on the ailerons etc. that all add up to big savings. The longest fuselage I can fit for transport would be about 97"; I can remove spinners and some planes I guess are designed to be able to remove the rudder which would reduce length a great deal. That's probably my main constraint - fuselage length for transport. I'd buy a trailer in a heartbeat however I have no place to store the trailer.

[eajohnson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by lazyboyflyer
	If your going with a 50cc airframe for IMAC, I highly recommend the 3DHS 89" AJ Slick.

That's the the Extra 260 in the background is it? The Slick looks just about the same size?!

I wonder if the Slick would fly well on 10S/10000mAh with a big three-blade prop (i.e. modest volts, high amps).. I've got lots of 5S/5000mAh packs.

[BoneDoc]

ding ding ding . It's a huge plane.

10S 10000 I think would work, assuming that you can get the appropriate motor for it.