HP on an airplane engine (TESTING)

[noir]

I need to test the horse power on a gasoline model airplane engine. I am looking for a way to compare it with an electric engine too. ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO REASONABLY TEST THE GASOLINE ENGINE's HP? I do not have any technical data so I need to start from scratch. ANY TESTING SUGGESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!

PS: Any suggestions on how to buy an engine may help too! I am new to all this!

[on pipe]

The best way, (cheap,easy) is to measure the thrust an engine produces with a certain propeller. A cheap fishing scale can be used to measure lbs. of thrust. Ross

[on pipe]

Oh, by the way, welcome to RCGroups! Ross

[Wayne V]

http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/link_club.htm go to this link and scroll down to the bottom under the heading " SOFTWARE", download the ThrustHP calculator, get yourself a tach and see what rpm you are turning a certain prop, enter the values and it will give you Pitch Speed, HP, and Thrust.

[Artisan]

I need to test the horse power on a gasoline model airplane engine. I am looking for a way to compare it with an electric engine too. ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO REASONABLY TEST THE GASOLINE ENGINE's HP? I do not have any technical data so I need to start from scratch. ANY TESTING SUGGESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!

PS: Any suggestions on how to buy an engine may help too! I am new to all this!


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You can always go to Wal-Mart and buy a new weed trimmer and pirate that engine. There are lots of conversion parts sellers on the internet that will sell you the stuff needed to turn it into an airplane engine. The stuff doesn't cost that much, relatively speaking.

Or, you can do the smart thing and go around to lawn equipment repair shops and see if they have any freebie engines in the back that they might give you. They have to pay to have that stuff hauled away, so you might end up with more engines than you ever dreamed of owning.

Welcome to the hobby. Good luck and drop in again soon. Let us know how you are doing.


Ed Cregger

[Wayne V]

Artisan good call on the weedeater engine, mine cost me a glowplug and a few bucks for some aluminum rod ( prophub ) and some plate ( engine mount ).
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793079

[noir]

I think I now have what I need to get started. Thank you all for your OUTSTANDING support and prompt responses.
Best regards!