Hi Dennis,
I'm sure you knew I was just kidding in my last post. I may not be as big a "techno freak" as Dean, but I am very close behind!
I agree with you that ECL progress is moving fast, maybe not as fast as a banana, but still fast. It has not been a situation where the technology has improved rapidly as much as it has been a factor of DISCOVERING what is really out there already and experimenting with different mfg. offerings. There are still wonderful E-power products from Japan, and Europe that we have not discovered and/or used yet.
Thanks to the world of the Dark Arts we have many items to choose from. These items will continue to be improved, even if only by small advancements in performance and quality. Most of the things we discuss here, CR props, a real ECL 4/2 break, etc. are in our ECL future, but not anytime soon. But by talking about them and sharing our ideas we will hasten their arrival.
I hope anyone reading our posts understands that the original "turnkey" setup of an: AXI 2826, Castle Creations 40 ESC, JMP Timer, 4,200 mAh 4 cell 14.8V battery, is equal to, or better than, most of the IC setups out there in the mid size A/C (500 to 600 sq in, 45 to 55 oz range). And that the items on Mike Palko's "ECL Equipment" post at the top of our ECL section of this forum are still valid and will give any ECL pilot a power system that is as powerful, and more reliable and repeatable than any IC power system out there. Since 2S and 4S systems are close to being at their MAX development for CLPA, I feel that the ECL system someone buys today will stay ahead of the IC systems for years to come.
Anyone buying an ECL system now will be happy with it for the next few years. IMHO: There will be improvements, but I don't think anything will make a system "obsolete" every year, unless you are competing at the very top levels of our affliction!
Items like the Jeti-Spin ESCs may be an improvement, but only a small one. The CC ESCs are still excellent for ECL and people will continue to be happy using them. We will see new Timers soon, but the JMP and new Ztron are still very good for our ECL planes and will continue to work just fine.
Soooo, just because Dean, Mike, Will, me, you, Igor, Alan, Ron, Kim, and many others, continue to stretch the hi tech "Hi Zoot" envelope, it does not mean that someone buying todays system will find it obsolete anytime soon. Even the best IC Engine on a pipe did not fly any better than my ECL setup (above) did this contest season. ...... MANY of the PILOTS did, but NOT his plane!
Your right, progress will come. And it will be a FUN ride for all of us. 2008 is going to be a BIG year for ECL. Howard Rush, Brett Buck, and other top pilots were VERY interested in my ECL setup at this years CA champs. I think Paul will have some serious ECL competition very soon.
Warm Regads,