What is going to give you better all around performance, in my opinion, the the type of power plant that you are most comfortable and most consistent with. We do have lots of choices now. Electric has a good foot hold and won't be going away, but it is far from a "plug and play" situation, especially at the top five Open class at the NATS. I have been watching the classifieds on the forums and you see batteries, motors and speed controllers being being sold as the owners are still looking for the next greatest thing and still looking for what they are comfortable and constant with. There are lots of choices just within the electric systems. You just have to be knowledgeable about the breed, and expect a learning curve. For me, and the way I participate and fly, Glow is the way to go. I can do what I did today, just grab a plane off the wall, a jug of fuel and a few tool boxes and go. Get as many flights as I want and as fast as I can. Most electric guys try to get to the field with at least a couple of charged packs, and need to recharge at the field to continue if the situation warrants. I can pull a syringe of fuel and be started and back in the air a whole lot faster than some of these battery pack can be recharged.. I don't know if I can ever wrap my mind around what one needs to know about the electric systems to be consistent at any level, and at my age I don't think I want to get involved financially what it would take and go through the learning curve all over again. I find that I just like engines. I like the satisfaction of fueling up, choking the engine , connecting the battery and feeling that bump and knowing it's waiting to come alive! And the payoff is a one flip start, and good consistent engine run, and having it shut off just when you think it will. I guess you can call me old school or a traditionalist.
I have noticed one thing this summer. I was watching some guys program the stuff at the SIG contest and talking about the different equipment that is available now. One guy mentioned the new speed control module he had that sensed the increase in current draw as the nose went up, and added a bit more power that could be programmed in. I said "WHAT!!?
" "You mean to tel me that you are programming in a "break" into the motor run??" and he replied "Yes". And I said well, it has now come full circle! He asked what I meant, and I said, " We have spent all these years trying to get our Fox .35s to run like and electric motor, and now you guys are trying to get you electric motors to run like Fox .35s!!!"
Who woulda thunk it??
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee