Bad Tooth

My Feedback: (10)

I have been flying my extra 260 on electric power and I would like to get longer flight times. I'm currently get about 7-8 min with a 3000 4s pack. I thought putting a small 4 stroke on it would do the trick, what do you guys think? And what would you recommend? Saito fa-40?

I have never weighed the plane but AeroWorks says that without the battery it is 52-53 oz.

http://www.aero-works.net/product/freestyle-extra-260-qb-l/

buzzard bait

I don't have that plane or anything like it, but I do have a Saito 40 that makes around 10,000 rpm on a 12x4 prop, which gives between 5 to 5 1/2 lbs of thrust. It is very light, only 10.8 oz w muffler. Whether that's enough or not really depends on how you like to fly and how much the plane will weigh in the end. I suspect you might prefer a Saito 62.

Also, I would check to see how much weight your plane will need under the cowl. If the 40 will balance it well, then maybe it would be a good choice to keep it light. If it needs more weight in the nose in order to balance, I would check the length of the Saito 62; if it fits under the hood and balances the plane well, I'd go with that. Maybe you'd prefer the 62 even if it needed a bit of weight in the back to balance, if you want to pull out of hovers or something like that.

They are both really sweet engines and sound wonderful; that will be another plus in my opinion.

Jim

Bad Tooth

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks for the advice. I think I should weigh the plane first. Sounds like the .62 may be the ticket.

How do you weigh your planes? I have a small digital scale but I don't think it goes above 5 lbs.

buzzard bait

Five pounds is 80 oz, so you should be fine. If not, take the wings off and weigh separately.

Consider the weight of the engine, including muffler, a motor mount, fuel tank, and throttle servo. Of course you won't need an ESC, which usually weighs about what a small throttle servo weighs. All your other servos should be fine even if they are micros. If they controlled it on electric power they will control it on glow. I have used 13g servos on a plane powered by a Saito 50 and see no problem at all.

I have a small digital balance that goes to 11 lbs. I often have to pile up some foam or balsa blocks, re-tare, and then weigh the plane. Plane makes it hard to read the result on a small flat balance, blocks also get it up off the wheels.

Jim

r ward

I have an electronic fishing scale that weighs in tenths of a lb. very accurate. from Walmart I believe.

r ward

something to think about is that an electric plane is not built to handle the vibration and stresses that occur with a IC engine. you might want to consider adding some gusseting or doubling some of the formers in the nose area and doubling the fire wall