Control Tower February 1997 [Archive]

jbourke

Feb 01, 1997, 01:00 AM

<h2 align="left">E-Zone News </h2>

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<td><h3>Article Contest </h3>
Please don't forget that you have until February 15th to enter an article
in the <a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../stuff/contest.htm">Article Contest</a>.  For this site to
succeed, we really need support from the readers out there. I'd like to thank the sponsors
of the current contest:
<ul>
<li><a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../ezone_ads/joepas.htm">Joseph Pasquito Electric Motor
Mounts</a> 
</li>
<li><a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../ezone_ads/clayvid.htm">Clay Howe Video</a> 
</li>
<li><a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../ncreat.htm">New Creations</a> 
</li>
<li>OHM Services 
</li>
</ul>
Don't let insecurity get in the way of fame! I get letters all the time
from people who have great ideas for articles but don't feel like they have the talent it
takes to write something up. Hey, if I can do it, anyone can! I really feel that anyone
who has been in the hobby for even a short time has enough knowledge to share. Maybe you
can write a product review about your current project, share some tips on kitbashing,
provide a useful circuit, share a successful airplane design, report on a recent event or
trade show, etc, etc. There are an incredible number of things to write about and there is
always an eager audience for new data. 'Nuff said.
<h3 align="left">The Move</h3>
If you are reading this then you have found your way to the new site.
Several of the features available at the old site will have to be worked on before they
become available again. The Classifieds will definitely return soon in a much improved
format. The digests will soon be back on-line also. In addition to these features there
will be several new services added soon. I'm happy to hear of any suggestions you might
have. Here are some of the great ideas I've received so far:
<ul>
<li>Contest Calendar: View up-coming electric fly-ins and
contests.
</li>
<li>User Guestbook: Deposit your contact information and
some information about yourself so modelers with like interests can locate each other
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Searchable Digests: Perform a keyword-based search on
the EFLIGHT digest archive.
</li>
</ul>
One new feature that has been added is an <a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../pages/search.htm">on-line
search</a> mechanism. You can search the entire site by keyword. 
<h3>Coming Attractions</h3>
There are alot of interesting articles in the works right now. Bill Bowne has provided
me with CAD files of two of his designs, a sport scale PT-19 for 500+ watt systems (20
cells), and a 10-cell electric aerobatic design called the "Snickers". The
images and articles weren't quite prepared for this month's edition, but I should have one
of them ready for next month. Currently under review are the Ministreak, from Tim
McDonough, the Turbo Baby, from Unbeatenpath Imports, and the Falconet, from Raptor
Aerosports. There are several how-to articles being worked on as well.
<h3>Reviewers Wanted</h3>
I have several hobby companies who are prepared to offer products for review but do not
feel they can afford to provide one for free. These companies are perfectly willing to
provide their products to reviewers at their cost. If you are interested in doing such a
review <a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=jbourke&d=ezonemag.com">let me know</a> and I will set you up with a
kit for a good price.</td>
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<hr>

<h2 align="left">New Products </h2>

If you are a vendor with a press release or product announcement that you would like to
share, <a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=jbourke&d=ezonemag.com">email me at jbourke(at)ezonemag.com</a>. 

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<td>Scotglas Manufacturing has announced a new composite fuselage for electric sailplanes.
It is an all fiberglass fuse with the vertical fin molded on and an optional fiberglass
rudder. Scotglas utilizes carbon fiber and kevlar reinforcing to increase strength yet
they manage to keep the weight down to only 5.5 oz. The fuse is a replacement for the
Elektro Junior and can accomodate either a T-tail or Flying Stab configuration. For more
information, email Chris Scott at <a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=SCOTDUPONT&d=aol.com">SCOTDUPONT(at)aol.com</a>,or
phone (915) 877-4405<table border="0" cellpadding="5">
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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/secover7.gif" width="114" height="150"></td>
<td>Pictured to the left is the cover of the Winter issue of Sailplane and Electric
Modeler. This magazine started its life as a sailplane-only rag, but has now broadened its
coverage to include Electric Flight as well. It is well worth checking out, with several
electric columns starting up. Sailplane and Electric Modeler can be reached on the web at <a href="http://www.Sailplanemodeler.com">http://www.Sailplanemodeler.com</a>. Subscriptions
are $22.00 (US) per year. The magazine is published quarterly.</td>
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<hr>

<h2>Letters </h2>

I love receiving letters from people who have viewed the site. The following is a
sampling of the letters I've received this month.  If you have a modeling photo or
technique you'd like to share email me at <a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=jbourke&d=ezonemag.com">jbourke(at)ezonemag.com</a>.
Beware: anyone who asks me for advice via email has a chance of seeing their letter in
virtual print the next month!

Some of the letters are edited to remove irrelevant or personal information. My
comments are in boldface type. If you do not see this sentence in boldface, get a new
browser or the next section will be a wee bit confusing.

<hr>

Date: Thu, 09 Jan 1997 17:04:14 +0000 
From: Dennis Goodrich <dennis_goodrich(at)mrc.iastate.edu> 
Subject: looking for electric C/L info 
 
Hi, 
 
I am in a newly formed control line club in the Des Moines, Iowa area 
called the Mid Iowa Controlliners. A number of us belong to R/C clubs, 
too, and fly electrics. 
 
At last night's meeting there a number of us talking/wondering/trying to 
build electric C/L planes. One guy actually had a plane there. It was 
based on a Tutor, but built much lighter. He had the Cox/Leisure motor 
and gear drive. He has a free flight timer to cut off the motor after 2 
minutes. He gets two flights per charge this way. 
 
It is very dificult to come by any info at all on this subject. Do you 
know where I can find out what rules of thumb to use? 
 
Thanks. 
 
Denny Goodrich 
dennis_goodrich(at)mrc.iastate.edu 


Dennis,

I'm personally somewhat surprised that electric power hasn't "taken
off" in the control line community. Perhaps your efforts will help to get things
moving. Hopefully, some interested control-liners out there will read your letter and let
both of us know what is out there. I do not know of any readily-available speed control
systems for electric C/L, but the rest of the conversion should be easy.

As for rules of thumb, I believe that the same rules of thumb we R/C-ers use
will apply equally to control line aircraft. For solid performance, try to get at least 60
watts for every pound of aircraft. The electric flight faq has a section on this and I
urge you to take a look.

<hr>

In regards to the <a href="/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../1997/escream.htm">January 1997 E-Zone review of
the BGM Electro-Screamer</a>:

Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 23:04:59 -0500 (EST) 
From: GriggsBill(at)aol.com 
To: jbourke(at)world.std.com 
Subject: WOW!!!!! 
 
What a great review. 
 
To address some of the problems the builder had with the kit. He is 
absolutely right on the money. 
 
All of the problems he noted were found upon building a second test aircraft 
(so I wouldn't be afraid to dork the original). I have corrected these 
problems in my latest batch of kits, and will gladly send replacement parts 
to anyone who needs them. 
 
Since the KRC meet, I have had the opportunity to try several different 
combinations with the Electro Screamer. I now use the ElectroJet Technology 
fan unit and a Salt Creek Special motor on 8 cells. This motor will soon be 
available exclusively through Bill Griggs Models. It falls between the 6V 
G400 and the 4.8V G400. As soon as I have a second person verify the motor 
data I will post it for everyones use. With this combination I get about a 
25-30% increase in speed. Duration is about the same but the current draw is 
slightly higher (no free lunch). 
 
Thanks again!!! 
 
Bill 
315-697-8152 


<hr>

From Mike721(at)worldnet.att.net Sun Jan 19 23:19:24 1997 
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 16:34:04 -0500 
From: MIchael Stewart <Mike721(at)worldnet.att.net> 
To: jbourke(at)world.std.com 
Cc: mike721(at)worldnet.att.net 
Subject: Airplane Pictures 

These are pictures of some of my airplanes. If you feel people might be 
interested then feel free to use any or all of them. 

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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_cd40.jpg" width="226" height="116"></td>
<td>The first is an Ace Cloud Dancer 40. This is built from the kit, with hardly any
changes. It is powered by an astro sport wind 40 and 18 Sanyo SCR 1400 cells. It has a
Flightec speed control, and weighs 7 lbs. I wish it was lighter. It flies for about 6
minutes, this is all aerobatics, not just floating around. It actually has no bad habits
at this weight, I just was expecting a much lighter airframe ( Better wood?) This uses a
Master Airscew Electric 13X10 prop. </td>
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<td width="800"><table border="0">
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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_skydt.jpg" width="224" height="259"></td>
<td>This is a Skydart, built from MAN plans. It is powered by an Astro 020, and 5 Sanyo
1000mah Cells. It is modified to elevons, instead of rudder elevator, and is a great
attention getter. It actually is very hard to fly though, it seems unstable in the roll
axis. It flies very fast, and was once entered in the KRC scale event as truly GIANT scale
( 4 times original size paper airplane). Didn't win though! </td>
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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_spit.jpg" width="396" height="215"> 
This is my Spitfire, built from the Dynaflight kit. It spans 80",
and is powered by an Astro Sport wind 90, on 36 1700 Sanyo Cells. Its weight is 14 lbs, 10
ounces, and at this it is light and overpowered. It flies huge pattern type manuevers
easily, and is fast. It's only vice is that it has very little drag, and it is very easy
to overshoot the runway. </td>
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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_tcraf.jpg" width="277" height="181"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_cra2.jpg" width="375" height="194"> 
These two pictures are of my 1/4 scale Taylorcraft. This is scratchbuilt
from the plans for the Ace kit, using the lightest wood I could find. It is covered in
Coverite 21 century white, with Kryon paint for trim. This was my first near scale model,
and I went all out, it has rib stitching and tapes, rivets in the cowl, etc. It is built
to resemble a full scale on that I selected from Scale Model Research photo's. I still
haven't done the interior though. It is powered by an Astro Geared 90 sport wind, and 36
1700 Sanyo cells. I used an astro 205 throttle, and a Zinger 20X10 prop. All up weight is
17 pounds, and it flies nicely at 1/2 throttle. Full throttle doesn't Seem any faster, but
it will climb at 45+ degrees forever. Mostly I just cruise around, doing touch and goes
and trying to look real. </td>
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<td><table border="0">
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<td>This is a picture of my long lost Golberg Chipmunk. This plane was built in 1989, and
was my first large electric. I flew this with an Astro 40 geared sport wind, and 21 1200
mah Sanyo cells. It flew for 4-5 minutes, and flew great. Weight was 7 lbs 14 ounces, and
it flew for 4 minutes. I flew this plane for 3 three years, then one day I stalled it 49
feet high (it took 50 feet to recover from a stall) </td>
<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_chipm.jpg" width="305" height="174"></td>
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</td>
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<td><table border="0">
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<td><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/ms_fs40.jpg" width="278" height="160"></td>
<td>Last is my also now deceased Sig 4Star 40. This was powered by an Astro 40 Geared
sport wind, and 21 1400 Sanyo cells. At 6 1/2 lbs this was a rocket, and could literally
loop around 3/4 of the wet powered planes at most fields. I won several club funflys ( AMA
Team funfly rules ) with this airplane, flying against glow powered planes. I used a Jomar
speed control, and a Master Airscrew electric 13X10 prop. Flight could be short if you
used full throttle with this setup, but once I learned to manage power I regularly flew 7
minute aerobatic routines. It succumbed to pilot error one day, when I hit the only planet
this side of Mars. </td>
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</table>
</td>
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</table>

I hope this is usefull to you, and I wish you and all 
Good Quiet Flying 
Michael Stewart AMA 2334 
mike721(at)worldnet.att.net 


<hr>

The following message originally appeared on EFLIGHT, and is of interest to
anyone who flies electric airplanes. Everyone complains about the lack of good electric
aircraft kits on the market, but <a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=dickb&d=aloha.net">Dick Burkhalter</a> is doing
something about it. If you are interested in being a part of Dick's letter writing
campaign to the major hobby manufacturers and distributors, please read his sample letter
shown below. 

Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 09:03:24 -1000 
From: Dick Burkhalter <dickb(at)aloha.net> 
Reply-To: eflight(at)world.std.com 
To: eflight(at)world.std.com 
Subject: [EFLT] Letter to kit manufacturers 
 
This message from Dick Burkhalter <dickb(at)aloha.net> distributed by EFLIGHT! 
 
Below is the text of a letter that I'm sending out to kit manufacturers 
asking them to get with the "Eflight program." Anyone here is welcome to 
use this as a model for a letter of their own. 
 
>I have been building models for over 50 years now, and since moving to Kauai, 
>have been flying strictly electric-powered R/C planes. I fly e-power because 
>noise restrictions limit flying gas models to one location on Kauai, the Pacific 
>Missile Range Facility on the west side of the island. This flying site is only 
>available one Sunday a month. By flying electric planes, I can fly in many parks 
>and other public places without bothering anyone with noise. 
> 
>I am dismayed by how few kits are made for electric power. I have converted a 
>number of glow planes to e-power and have met many people all over the 
>country who have also done it. Some examples of successful electric 
>conversions are: 
> Great Planes Super Sportster 40, Big Stik 40, Cub (various sizes) 
> Goldberg Ultimate Biplane, Piper Cub 
> Sig Kadet, Seniorita, Smith Miniplane, Clipped-wing Cub 
> Thunder Tiger "Tiger Trainer" 
> Ace Cloud Dancer 
> Many others from 1/2A to Quarter Scale 
> 
>If you take time to peruse the World Wide Web, you will find a number of sites 
>devoted to electric power, the most notable of which is "The E-Zone," 
>maintained by Jim Bourke, who also manages the E-Flight list server. These 
>web sites contain photos and articles of successful electric-powered aircraft, 
>from tiny 16 oz pylon racers to huge multi-engined WW II bombers. If you don't 
>have access to the Web, then simply check out the model magazines, most all 
>of which have a separate column on electric flight, and see how this segment of 
>the hobby has grown. 
> 
>Please take the time to investigate the progress that has been made in electric 
>power in the past few years, and to work with manufacturers of electric power 
>systems to make more of your kits convertable to electric power. In most cases, 
>nothing more is required than a simple insert that details the changes 
>necessary. Those of us who have made conversions would certainly be more 
>than willing to assist you by supplying drawings and instructions. 
> 
>Sincerely, 
> 
Dick Burkhalter dickb(at)aloha.net 
SoundOff! Productions P. O. Box 4027 
Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766 


<hr>

 
From dbekins(at)slip.net Tue Feb 4 23:50:26 1997 
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 13:14:39 +0000 
From: Don Bekins <dbekins(at)slip.net> 
To: jbourke(at)world.std.com 
Cc: cwreich(at)aol.com 
Subject: Link With SAM 

Dear Jim, 
I am past president of the Society of Antique Modelers [SAM] which has a 
large contingent that fly R/C electric old timers for sport and 
competition. We regularly have contests [some 22 a year in the west] in 
which R/C electric is always an event. Our membership is relatively 
large [2,700 domestically] and diverse [another 4,000 plus in 12 foreign 
countries] and most are interested in or now fly electric old timers 
[including myself]. 

Your web page is excellent. It does not take a lot of time to load, and 
provides excellent links. SAM would like to link with your group if you 
feel it worthwhile. Like your page, we currently link with AMA and Tower 
Hobbies, plus some other good groups. 

And like you, our web site is tied in with our webmeister's server. Our 
SAM web site is: 

<a href="http://www.napanet.net/~nedn">http://www.napanet.net/~nedn </a>

Don Bekins, past SAM president

<hr>

From m.lank(at)boldinternet.com Tue Feb 4 23:47:47 1997 
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 09:26:02 +0000 
From: Michael Lank <m.lank(at)boldinternet.com> 
To: jbourke(at)world.std.com 
Subject: info request 

Calling from Toronto Canada. I would like to convert my Falcon 56" 
trainer from an Enya 45 to electric. What engine should I buy? What 
other changes are required to the aircraft?

It depends on how heavy your airplane is and how much wing area it has (I don't
have this info memorized for the Falcon). You should get in the habit of using the
watts/pound rule of thumb for questions such as this. Lets consider two likely candidates,
the Astro 15G and the Astro 25G. 

You want to have about 60 watts for every pound of airplane. Take the empty
airplane weight (with radio equipment but without motor and batteries) and consider the
wing loading and power loading of various motor/battery combos. You will want to draw
about 30 amps at full throttle. Therefore:

<ul>
<li>an Astro 25G and 16 cells will provide 480 watts and will weigh 2.75 lbs </li>
<li>an Astro 15G and 10 cells will provide 300 watts and will weigh about 1.9 lbs.</li>
</ul>

Now:

<ul>
<li>take the watt figures expressed above and divide by the total airplane weight to
get the power loading of both systems.</li>
<li>take the weight and divide by the wing area to get the wing loading.</li>
</ul>

Next... I am soon to build a 1/5 scale Spitfire or Hurricane... weighing in 
at about 25-30 lbs. Can I use electric motors for an airplane this size? 
Looking forward to hearing from you. 

It is certainly possible to use electric motors for something this heavy, but
it isn't done very often. Taking a look at the watts/pound rule, you would need at least
(60 watts/pound * 25 pounds) 1500 watts for scalish performance. In order to get
1500 watts you are going to have to have about 50 cells on board. The trouble is that no
one manufactures a motor for this number of cells due to safety concerns (high voltages
like this are very dangerous) so you would have to gang two motors together using a belt
drive. This sort of thing has been done before, but I've only seen a few photos here and
there- I haven't seen such a plane in person.

The real solution here is to bring the weight down as much as possible. At 18
or 19 lbs the airplane would become much easier to power and would have a much more
enjoyable wing loading as well (I'm assuming roughly 1400 sq. in. of wing area). If this
is to be a master scale contest winner then weight reduction is limited by your desires
for detail.

A scale model such as this could really benefit from the advantages of electric
power. The reliability is a major plus, as is the fact that your beautiful scale paint job
wouldn't get grimy. If you decide to go ahead with electric power, make sure and tell us
how it goes!

<hr>

Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 19:11:23 -0500 
From: MIchael Stewart <Mike721(at)worldnet.att.net> 
Subject: 1996 LVRCS Electric Fly 

Hi Jim 
Attached find 6 pictures from the 1996 Lehigh Valley Radio Control Society 
Electric Fly. This was held on June 8,9 1996. I CD this event, which is 
held in Easton PA. (20 miles from KRC site). Each year this event grows, 
1996 having 50+ registered flyers. These pictures are just some general 
shots, taken during our lunch break, when spectators were invited to 
examine the aircraft closely. 
The dates for this years meet, the tenth annual, will be June 7,8. I would 
appreciate your listing this event, with me as a contact. 
Michael Stewart 
107 Taft Terrace 
Washington, NJ 07882 
908-689-6981 


<img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv961.jpg" width="270" height="205"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv962.jpg" width="362" height="204"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv963.jpg" width="361" height="252"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv964.jpg" width="401" height="254"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv965.jpg" width="261" height="205"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/ctower/../../images/lv966.jpg" width="291" height="256"> 


<hr>

Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 17:35:04 -0800 
From: Des Richards <xtr10815601(at)xtra.co.nz> 
Subject: EFlight in New Zealand 

Hi Jim 
The purpose of this note is to let you know that electric flight exists 
here in New Zealand. The organisation coordinating things is the New 
Zealand Electric Flight Association. We are recognised by our national 
body, the NZ Model Aircraft Association. 
I am presently the chairman of the group and we are slowly obtaining 
more converts. 
If any of your readers would like to contact us for exchanges on 
information and ideas it would be appreciated. 
My name is Des Richards and I have been flying in National competition 
since 1969, informally for six years prior to this. 
Electric flight, both radio and free flight have been my main areas of 
activity for about ten years now, with most of my equipment coming from 
Astro Flight. 
Over to you and charged flying 
Des

 

<hr>

Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 15:55:33 -0500 
From: Rod Woolley <rwoolley(at)synapse.net> 
Subject: Fully permuted thickness table 

Hi Jim, 

I would love to have as an addition to the reference table or perhaps as 
a separate item a table of copper wire perhaps tinned copper wire by 
gauge and its fuse rating for currents from say 1A to 50 A. I would also 
like to see a table of wire resistance per foot or per inch for 
different gauges. The former would be useful for lightweight DIY fuses 
to go in battery packs, and the latter would be useful, for example, 
when one is trying to make resistor shunts so one may use a digital 
voltmeter to measure current. 

Another thing that would be useful would be a table of weights of some 
US and Canadian coins so that people can check the calibration of their 
weighing gear. At present I use my kitchen scales to check battery 
weights etc and it is hopeless. I want to be able to accurately measure 
motor thrust, and could calibrate a spring if I knew the weight of some 
coins. 

Rod Woolley

<hr>

Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 10:17:24 SGP 
From: TAI-LOON TEO ALLAN <teoallan(at)hpsgmx18.sgp.hp.com> 
Subject: [EFLT] Airtronics / Sanwa connectors 

This message from TAI-LOON TEO ALLAN <teoallan(at)hpsgmx18.sgp.hp.com> distributed
by EFLIGHT! 

Greetings, 
For those who want to know, Sanwa (Airtronics) will 
be converting their connectors to be JR/HItec compatible. 

The Polarity will be reversed on the Ground and Power 
so that it is now plug and play compatible with Futaba 
JR/Hitec. 

This ends the special polarity and plug requirements 
for Sanwa, full production will be in April 1997. 

I was talking to the Sanwa factory engineers in Singapore 
where they manufacture a world wide range of transmitters 
and receivers.. 

Regds 
Allan 


<hr>

<h3>Letters I Need Help With</h3>

In this section I've placed some of the letters I've received that I simply don't have
the expertise to answer. If anyone out there can help out the following individuals, it
would be greatly appreciated. If you have a special area of knowledge and do not mind if I
refer people to you please let me know and I will pass a few questions along each month.
In particular, I could really use someone who understands electric sailplanes.

<hr>

 
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 18:06:22, -0500 
From: MR DONALD C HARKER <TGQH64A(at)prodigy.com> 
Subject: introduction, and flying wings 

Jim 
I have been a gasser for forty years and have gotten tired of the 
greasy kid stuff so I have decided to switch. I am by profession a 
bio-medical eng and have exstensive experience in both electronics 
and the care and feeding of Ni-Cads, so I am quite comfortable in 
this area. The matching of props, motors and battery pack weight is 
proving a bit of a challenge. 


I have constructed a future flight klingberg wing, of the rocket size, 
and wish to convert it to electric. I have the following questions; 

1. Can I use a Astro Flight .020 (ferrite) with a gear box to 
fly the wing? 
2. Would a 600ma battery pack be adequate for sport flying? 
3. Assuming a gear box, what size prop would you recommend?

 
Thanks for the time and the web page 
Don Harker

I've already emailed Don my suggestions, but I do not have experience with the
klingberg wing or the old ferrite 020 from Astro Flight. If anyone out there has already
converted the Klingberg wing and/or knows which speed 400 motor the 020 is equivalent to,
I'm sure Don would like to hear from you.

<hr>

Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 13:59:24 -0800 
From: Henningsen <r.henningsen(at)internetmci.com> 
Subject: Need advice on Electric gliders, motors, controllers 

Hi Jim, 
You're about the best "expert" I can ask, and I do need some advice. 

I'm Flying a Sledgers "Electric Hawk" with a Astro Cobalt O5 FAI with 5 
turns, direct drive, 8x5 prop. 


The Hawk is a pretty good plane, and I've thermaled it for over 30 
min. But it lands fast, even with Spoilerons. I'm using the Infinity 
600 radio. And the motor run time is about 45 seconds. The batteries 
run down fast with the 5 turn. Best climb out is about 30 degrees 


I'm looking for a GREAT "all up, last down", thermaling type elec 
sailplane. Ed Sledgers said that his "Electric Storm" was better, 
especially with a geared FAI O5, 12-8 prop, 7 cell 1700 pack. 
I really like the thermaling aspects of flying. 


I guess I was wondering what you thought, or know. 


Questions I have are: 
1) What is the best electric thermal sailplane that you've flown or 
know about, I like the 05 size. How about these 
a) Electric Hawk 
b) Electric Storm 
c) Falcon 550E 
d) New Creations Millineum Falcon 
e) Northeast Sailplanes "Phantom" 

2) What about geared 05 vs direct drive- How much can I improve the performance 
3) What is the best prop combo, if I go geared 
4) Is the Steve Nue speed controller a good one? I'm currently using 
a Steve Neu 60 Amp Micro FAI speed controller for my direct drive AS 
motor. I have been told that if I go to the same "5-turn" motor in a 
geared version, that I would need to go to the 80 Amp speed 
controller. Why would there be any difference, and do I need to do 
that? 
8) I was using 6 cell, 1700's with OK performance. The 7 cell 1000's 
were much worse. 

Jim, I'd really appreciate any help that you could provide. 


Thank You. Bob Henningsen, Portand OR.

This is another tough one for me to answer. I've emailed Bob with some advice,
but I do not have enough sailplane experience to be of much help. I'm hopeful that someone
out there will email Bob and help him out and then email me and let me know who you are so
I can refer sailplane questions to you from now on. Ultimately, what I really want is an
electric sailplane columnist, but I don't want to press my luck. :)

<hr>

Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 18:55:49 +0200 
From: rafi yoeli <exec(at)netvision.net.il> 
Subject: very small electric R/C plane 

Hello Jim, 
I am an experienced R/C model builder. I am presently trying to 
configure and fly the tiniest possible electric R/C plane which should 
use two channels and be as small as possible. I plan to use the new 0.25 
oz 
servos from fmadirect (as soon as they become available) and a very 
small radio and possibly lithium cells. Do you know where I can find the 
best motors & props for this size ? also, are you aware of any kit or 
configuration that would serve as a good baseline ? 
have you built anything close or do you know of anyone who has ? 
Rafi Yoeli 
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=exec&d=netvision.net.il">exec(at)netvision.net.il</a>

I am aware of the rising popularity of "slow flight" in Europe, but I
do not have any contacts in this area. Please email Rafi if you have some info you can
share, and let me know if you are available to answer questions on the subject.