What size for .40/.46s?

[Terry Caron]

With modern .20/.25s doing .35 duties into the mid-30 oz range at times, what size/weight plane does say an OS .46 LA properly suit these days?
Curious for future projects.

Terry

[Tim Wescott]

Try this thread: http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=31124.0.

After asking the question and reading all the answers, I decided I was going to build a ship between 600 and 630 squares, no bigger.  But you may come to a different conclusion.

I suspect that you'd want to go a bit smaller for an LA40.

[john e. holliday]

Forget the LA 40 and go with the LA 46.   Mine has pulled some 600 to 650 square inch planes in the 65 ounce range on 65 foot lines X .018.

[Paul Taylor]

Randy Smiths Vector 40!

Killer combo. IMHO

[Terry Caron]

Tnx Tim - very useful thread; I agree.

Other than ability to handle a larger airframe, is the .46 LA in any way a better engine than the .40?
I was thinking of a Super Chipmunk maybe.

Terry

[Tim Wescott]

There's threads on that, too.

I only have limited experience with these engines, having recently moved up from smaller airplanes.  By reputation, the LA 46 is a far easier engine to handle, and more versatile.  The LA 40, by contrast, has a reputation for being difficult to get a decent run out of.

Personally, I have an LA 46 and an LA 40 that has been re-timed.  Of the two, the LA 46 has more power and is easier to handle.  They're both on 500 square inch planes.

Controversy swirls around the LA 40 -- some feel it's a fine engine, some feel it's useless, some feel it's only good once it's been retimed, etc.  Pretty much everyone agrees that the LA 46 is great right out of the box.

[Dave_Trible]

My offering on the topic.  I think the LA.46 would be fine for a Super Chipmunk.  Having said that I think that's about all the airplane I would put on it.  It runs very well and handles nicely but is just a new equivalent of the FP .40.  Some of our FP .40 have more power.  The LA .40 proved a huge disappointment for us,  not near the power of the FP.  Where you tell the difference is in the wind and especially in the vertical manuevers.  Here you can run out of steam in a hurry.  But very good for something Chipmunk size and weight.  I base my comments on direct experience trying to put LAs into airplanes already much flown with FPs.

Dave

[Terry Caron]

Ok guys - looks like the .46 is the better choice.
Buying one now. 

Thanks for everyone's input.

Terry

[Bill Little]

Ok guys - looks like the .46 is the better choice.
Buying one now. 

Thanks for everyone's input.

Terry

Hi Terry,

Another point that has not been discussed is that the .46LA is LIGHTER than the .40LA!  By using different venturis, all available from OS, you can really alter the .46LA as to how much airplane it will fly.  The Super Chipmunk is a great match for the .46LA.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[Tim Wescott]

Once you get the engine in the plane and try it, you may find this useful:

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=21156.0

There's lots of factors to get right, so if at first you don't succeed -- keep trying.

[Terry Caron]

Another great thread Tim!

It just occurred to me that I have a partially built Banshee stored away -  a profile is maybe a wiser choice for a first big plane?

Terry

[Paul Taylor]

You will not find a better engine then the LA 46 for the price. User friendly. Can get fuel at the LHS and works great Box stock.

Might be too much HP for a Banshee. Nah can never have too much power. 

[Tim Wescott]

Another great thread Tim!

It just occurred to me that I have a partially built Banshee stored away -  a profile is maybe a wiser choice for a first big plane?

Terry

It depends on how often you crash.  A profile with a Banshee-style wing (i.e. no LE sheeting, and it depends on the covering for torsional strength) will be a lot easier to repair after a crash, quicker to replace after a really bad crash, and it's far easier to get to the engine and fuel system when things are messed up.  But they're floppy and you need to stay on top of keeping the wing straight.

[Tim Wescott]

You will not find a better engine then the LA 46 for the price. User friendly. Can get fuel at the LHS and works great Box stock.

Might be too much HP for a Banshee. Nah can never have too much power. 

They're way easy to tone down, and a Banshee -- particularly one with the wing moved forward an inch or two for easier balance -- works great with an LA 46.

[Terry Caron]

They're way easy to tone down, and a Banshee -- particularly one with the wing moved forward an inch or two for easier balance -- works great with an LA 46.

Well, alrighty then!
And I already had a note with it to move the wing.
.46 LA on the Banshee works for me! 

Terry

[Motorman]

LA46 is way too much engine for a Banshee they were designed for a Fox 35.

MM

[Rob Duckering]

46 LA on a banshee is fine but you will need to shorten the nose about 2". You can never have too much power, lol

[Terry Caron]

I certainly don't know guys - 510 sq in and ~50 oz on a Banshee.
Prop /venturi/nitro content/line length will make differences of course.
I'd be running a stock muffler too.

Is a shortened nose as good as relocating the wing?
Much easier and allows stock doublers to go farther aft, past the wing high point.

Terry

p.s. - I have a Fox .35 and Enya .35-IIIB but would prefer to run not so much castor, among other considerations.

[Dave_Trible]

I don't think I'd change the tail length.  Just shorten the nose.  The Banshee was designed expressly with the Fox in mind at about 6 ounces and is far too long for most other engines and will end up nose heavy if you don't crop the nose.  One change is enough for it.  That's especially true if you put a muffler on.  Even using a Fox WITH a muffler might be too nose heavy on the stock airplane.  Pulling the tail further back may create tracking issues on an airplane that actually flies pretty well.  Don't be afraid to overpower it,  you won't.  That's pretty hard to do.  Once you get used to more power you won't go back.
Dave

[Terry Caron]

OK, I'm satisfied then.

I have the Banshee, .46 LA is on the way, and a shortened nose suits me fine. 

Thanks guys - you've been a great help.

Terry

[Andrew Saunders]

I agree with Paul Taylor. Randy smith's Vector 40 would be a great plane to use the LA 46 on. If the engine hasnt been reworked, put a Super Tigre needle valve in it and add one head shim or an extra gasket. Use a tongue muffler also.

[Greg Hart]

.46 LA will be better then the .40LA swings a larger prop with less load and has a much better engine run. Ad a ounce bigger tank and let us know what you come up with.

[Motorman]

I'm building an E Banshee now and leaving the nose long, I think it's part of the Banshee look. For an LA46 I'd get an arc Vector 40 from Brodak.

MM

[Terry Caron]

edited out.

[Terry Caron]

I appreciate the recommendations but, as with many, I'm retired on a pretty tight budget and a Banshee in the hand is cheaper than a Vector in the warehouse. 
And a profile/stock engine seems a wiser way to go for a first big plane, maybe destined for a quick demise.
As I mentioned in the original post, I'm planning a (near) future project.
What I didn't mention is that I'm preparing for the maiden flights of my ARF Flite Streak this Saturday, the first plane of my own I've flown in ~45 years. 

Terry

[Shug Emery]

I appreciate the recommendations but, as with many, I'm retired on a pretty tight budget and a Banshee in the hand is cheaper than a Vector in the warehouse.  
And a profile/stock engine seems a wiser way to go for a first big plane, maybe destined for a quick demise.
As I mentioned in the original post, I'm planning a (near) future project.
What I didn't mention is that I'm preparing for the maiden flights of my ARF Flite Streak this Saturday, the first plane of my own I've flown in ~45 years.  

Terry

Mighty fine your getting back after 45 years. I'm back after 19 years. Flew a Banshee like the dickens. Loved that plane with an OS .35 on front. I agree on the long nose...looks good. Eventually put the Banshee down in the terra-firms but placed in a contest with it once. My finest hour.
Carry forth on your Flite Streak flight  coming up.
Shug

[Terry Caron]

Mighty fine your getting back after 45 years. I'm back after 19 years. Flew a Banshee like the dickens. Loved that plane with an OS .25 on front. I agree on the long nose...looks good. Eventually put the Banshee down in the terra-firms but placed in a contest with it once. My finest hour.
Carry forth on your Flite Streak flight  coming up.
Shug

Well now Shug, that gives me pause again; I have a .25 FP and I kinda like the long nose myself.
Hadn't considered it for a 500+ wing but if that'll haul a Banshee adequately, maybe the .46 could wait for a Vector or it's ilk.

Terry

[Shug Emery]

Well now Shug, that gives me pause again; I have a .25 FP and I kinda like the long nose myself.
Hadn't considered it for a 500+ wing but if that'll haul a Banshee adequately, maybe the .46 could wait for a Vector or it's ilk.

Terry

I meant to type .35)))))   Sorry for the false alarm.

Bet you can't wait for Saturday.
Fly tight.

[Terry Caron]

Bet you can't wait for Saturday.
Fly tight.

That's why I'm bouncing off the walls about another setup - nothing more to do to the FS! 

Terry

[john e. holliday]

Well I will clarify why I recommend the LA 46 over the AL 40.  They are both great engines.  In my LA 40's I had the habit of changing the needle on the first run and then it was trying to get back to where it started to begin with.  I finally learned to fly that first flight and never touched the needle the rest of the day.  I think the 40 held heat some where.   The .46 I never touched the needle as it was ready from the first flip unless there was a big temperature drop.