I dismantled a CD-ROM yesterday and noticed that the motor used to drive the laser-dolly back and forth is about the right size for a tail motor. Diameter is a little bit larger than the stock:

Diameter: 11,8 x 15,8 mm (flat motor)
Can length: 26,3 mm (29,5 bearing-to-bearing)
I have no scale to measure the weight.

It pulls 0,4 A at 8,8 V (measured load voltage) with a 5,5x4 prop cut down to 4,5"which isn't too bad I guess (???). I havent' measured the stock AeroHawk motor yet. At first I thought that this is probably a 5 V motor and will probably draw way too much current at the voltages I will need to use it at. that's why I didn't bother trying it when I dismantled a different CD-ROM earlier, that had the exact same partnumber as this one (I still have the can). I made a ghetto prop-adapter by using the worm-drive gear that was originally mounted on it and threading a CA-drenched balsa nut to the back of the prop.

It does push a respectable amount of air.

I have one of those and I would bet that it would work well for docile flying - the problem is that it seems to take a while to spin up and may not be able to react quickly enough to keep up with some flying.


Been keeping it in mind for a small airplane really.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Steve

Be careful with these - I've taken apart about 20 CD-Rom drives of vintages ranging from '94 through '02, and I've yet to encounter one with a brushed motor that had carbon brushes. Without fail, they've all been metal-fingered ones, which would have a short life at the currents we need.

They also do not take kindly to being turned "backwards" (CW when facing the output sharft, CCW when facing the back plate) and will often fail in a hurry if run backwards at high currents.

I'm usually wrong, especially when I speak up on something I think I know something about, so take that into account. It sure would be nice to use all those motors for something other than refrigerator magnets.

I am charging the battery now so we'll see in half an hour. It does seem a bit slow to start, and it does indeed have finger brushes.

I bet it'll be crap!

Yes, the versions I have all had metal wipers too I believe.

Steve

If it is going to be direct drive, why not mount it on the opposite side of the boom so it will spin in forward direction. That is how I have my GWS DD tail motor.
It rotates in normal direction and prop provides cooling as well.

Mark

It doesn't get enough voltage to work so it runs way too slow.

I could rewind it, I have lots of wire for it. But I'm lazy, and besides, the brushes will probably just die just as fast as the stock motor.