Fuel Load for OS LA.46

[Dan McEntee]

    I don't have any real experience with the LA.46 and I'm working on a project to be powered by one. What do you guys that have run these regularly use for a stunt pattern on a typical 40 size profile? I'm trying to decide what allowances I need to make for a tank. I must not know the right search words because I come up with all kinds of other stuff besides what I want to know! I know plane, prop and fuel make a difference, just need to know how much some people are suing, especially those in the Mid-West near the St. Louis, MO altitudes.
   Thanks a lot in advance,
    Dan McEntee

[Tim Wescott]

Not St. Louis, but in Oregon at 600 feet altitude, with a 53 ounce Twister, I use four ounces of GMA 22/10 doctored up with 2 ounces of Colman lantern fuel per gallon for fuel efficiency.  Without the Colman fuel I'm good for anything from two laps after the clover to somewhere in the middle of the clover -- I'd probably get by with 4-1/4 or 4-1/2 ounces, but it's a 4 ounce tank.

I think you'll be safe with 5 ounces.

[Randy Cuberly]

It's very dependent on the venturi size, amount of nitro, altitude you fly at and oil percentage in the fuel.
For instance Here in Tucson (2300 Ft) with a .284 venturi, ST 46 Needle valve assembly 15% nitro and 22 % oil (half and half) running a 11.5-4 APC on a Brodak (profile) Cardinal at 9600 RPM launch, I never used more than 3 3/4 ounces of fuel with about 8 laps left after the pattern, at 5.3 second laps on 66 ft lines (center to center).

Same setup with a 295 venturi...richer needle setting and same launch RPM used 4.8 ounces...but much more powerful at same lap times!

Same setup with 20% nitro and slightly richer needle setting and more power...5.1 ounces.

Just pick your poison...it's totally dependent on how you run the engine.  For what it's worth the last setup was more forgiving and also flew a 55 oz Blue Angel about the same way!

Randy Cuberly

[Steve Helmick]

Dan, have you looked at the pinned ".46LA Setups" over yonder in the Engine Setup Forum? Should be a lot of data there for you. You gotta be careful, because some will tell you they only need 2 oz of 15% nitro and neglect to mention that they're flying OTS or Beginner, or that they fly at 6,000' and 100F.  Steve

[Matt Colan]

Our LA 46 setup uses 5 1/2 ounces of fuel on Powermaster 10/22 and a 40LA size Venturi. This combination is used around sea level and has powered its way through the gales at KOI with success.

[Will Davis]

10  % nitro , 22 powermaster 1/2 syn 1/2 castor  at sea level,  12/4 apc prop, run fast two cycle, stock motor , stock big muffler , st nva                  . 265 needs about 4.0 ounces .288 needs about  4.25   .295.  Needs about 4.5.

[Dan McEntee]

Dan, have you looked at the pinned ".46LA Setups" over yonder in the Engine Setup Forum? Should be a lot of data there for you. You gotta be careful, because some will tell you they only need 2 oz of 15% nitro and neglect to mention that they're flying OTS or Beginner, or that they fly at 6,000' and 100F.  Steve

      Hi Steve;
    Thanks for pointing that out, and thanks for the other replies, just what I was looking for. Didn't see thethread pinned in the engine section before. Gonna work on things today and try and get this model cranked out.
   Thanks a lot,
   Dan McEntee