Richard39

My Feedback: (14)

Is there a point where a YAK style airplane in the 80 inch size (normally a 50 CC engine) could fly on either a 30, 35 or 55 DLE engine? is aircraft weight the factor? or is it performance that makes that decision for you... I have an 80 inch YAK that I would like to use a smaller engine than a 50 size .. No 3D flying... thanks

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

89" or so and 16 lbs would be normal for a DA 50 or DLE 55. A 55 powered 80" (depending on how its built and its final weight) would be ballistic.

A true 30cc 3D plane is around 74". So at 80 inches (depending on weight) and a 35 cc engine, you should be in pretty good shape for sale style flying and maybe a tad under powered for serious 3D.

Whistling Death

What brand of Yak?
The determining engine size factors are what style you want to fly, the weight of the plane and the wing loading.
If the plane is in the 18lbs. or less range and you don't care for 3D, the 35 might be OK.

Taz_Hobbies

My Feedback: (15)

My 73" MX2 with a DLA 32 on it has some pretty amazing vertical performance with a cheap 18x8 wood prop. Now, I cannot 3D it because I lack those skills, but it pulls off every IMAC style manuever at half throttle or less.

MTK

Lessee....I had a DLE55, piped, in an Extreme Flight 78" Extra just for kicks to see if that extremely light airframe could handle the power (around 6HP on pipe, some 35# of thrust). It did! The plane weighed around 12 1/4 #. No, it wasn't ballistic; actually flew more like a foamy and was some of the best fun I've had with toy airplanes in years. The Extra has a large wing (1250 squares) and the large wing dominates and controls speed in airplanes. The DLE turned a 20x12 3 bladed Mezjlik carbon prop. The Extra was also the test bed for an SAP180HP, a ZDZ40RE and a Mintor 38, the ZDZ being the weakest of the bunch

Have an OS33GT, also piped, on a larger, heavier model than the Extra. The 33 works fine in that application.

So I'd say that if the model is light enough, say 14 lbs or less, and the wing area isn't terribly large, say around 1100 squares give or take, the 33-36cc engines will work fine. The OS33 would have worked great on the Extra for example, if I had it during the Extra's life span (spektrum rx failure got that one, sigh!). If the model is much heavier or wing area much larger, go for the 55. For my type of flying, performance is the most important variable......

skillet92

Had the GP 330S Extra with a DL 50 and it was stupid powered. Almost to much for 3D (i know impossible right) but it had a hard time hovering because it just wanted to climb all the time. it was 80" and a little over 16 pounds. Floated great, but I do believe a DLE 35 or OS33 would have been great for that plane. I have since put same engine in a TT Yak 87" and it is great. Still light and will do anything I ask. If you can keep the yak under 14 pounds I belive a 35 would be more than enough for IMAC style flying.

Richard39

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks to all for the helpful replies....

Richard

ahicks

My Feedback: (2)

80" Katana, 13.5 lbs, 1350 sq. in. or so, DLE 30. Works great for limited 3D (suits my capabilities!), and awesome as a sport plane...

I've had a few planes the DLE30 could throw around like rag dolls - but honestly the novelty wore off quickly? I have much more fun with planes that will slow way down without wing rock or similar issues...

mvallyman

My Feedback: (32)

If you do run a 30cc in a 50cc plane you might find you have to add close to a pound of weight in the nose for balance.

Richard39

My Feedback: (14)

Would not want to add weight in the nose so that is a good point... thanks...

jasburrito

I think a 35cc would work great. I have a cheezy china made 52cc spinning a 20x10 mez with lots of power for 3d on a 77inch 540. Good 30cc class motors spin 20x10 just fine. To compare my buddy has dle 55cc on a 78 inch extra.
(way to much power)

Prop has so much pull at idle that it seems to make it hard for him to land at times. 22x10 zoar.
but whatever. biggers better.

captinjohn

Its a no -brainer....get the 55. You can always throttle back to the power of 35cc. Best thing is with the 55cc engine you can fly other bigger airplanes already set-up for a 55 later if you decide too.

jeffk464

It seems to me you are always better off at the top end of the recommended engine size.

ahicks

My Feedback: (2)

Lighter is better? Assuming you can figure out how to put an 80"/13-1400 sq. in. together without adding weight (not saying you can on all of them, talking about a smaller 50 size!), these things are great down under 14lbs.... but suit yourself!

gade600sdi

I have a Hangar 9 Extra 260 78" with a DLE 30, even though the plane calls for a 50cc. I thought the 50 was overkill so I decided to make it lighter. I suspected it would work and it did. Weight is 13# and it flys good for pattern and light 3D. It will hover with the DLE30 at half throttle. I did have a few lead segments on the nose initially, but since removed them. I have the motor approx. 1/4" further forward to help with the weight and used the pull pull rudder servo. So yes, I would say a 30-35cc engine can fly a 78-80 inch plane less than 14# with no problem and even do some limited amount of 3D.