Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
03-02-2011, 04:43 AM
#1
Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
Hi guys,
I have NIB the old Byron F16 and YA Starfire II that I want to convert to EDF. I was impressed with the XPS with Dynamax fan units seen on Youtube. I have built both planes with traditional nitro DF setup and expect that the EDF conversion will be a lot less hassle than nitro build. Just wondering about any pitfalls with EDF in regards to building, power unit durability, or flying before I make the plunge?
I have NIB the old Byron F16 and YA Starfire II that I want to convert to EDF. I was impressed with the XPS with Dynamax fan units seen on Youtube. I have built both planes with traditional nitro DF setup and expect that the EDF conversion will be a lot less hassle than nitro build. Just wondering about any pitfalls with EDF in regards to building, power unit durability, or flying before I make the plunge?
03-02-2011, 08:12 AM
#3
RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
ORIGINAL: uncljoe
Just get ready for 3 minute flights.......
Semper Fi
Just get ready for 3 minute flights.......
Semper Fi
03-02-2011, 09:53 AM
#4
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RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
IMHO to convert the F-16 with an XPS system is not worth it as there are too many downsides....for me anyway.
It has been done - most notibly by Billyd. While impressive in preformance - the Byron airframes were never designed to handle that much power or weight. He was pushing 18 lbs+ as an airframe weight due to the substantial strengthing that was needed and the weight of the fan/motor (which is heavy) and then the batteries. He had very high landing speeds due to the weight, and when his controller gave up there was some bad damage that resulted from the emergency landing. I think his flights were barley 3 min....again - weight was the enemy as was the high amps the system uses.
A better way to go with the Byrons is to use the E-Byro fan. Just as much or more power than the OS 91 Byrofan combo and you can use pretty much a stock built airframe. My F-16 is about 13.5 lbs RTF. Not a speed demon - but that's not what Byron's are. It's just as fast or slightly faster than the glow powered bird. I can also get 5+ min depending on the motor used
If you want a go fast plane - sell the Byron and go with a different manufacture.
It has been done - most notibly by Billyd. While impressive in preformance - the Byron airframes were never designed to handle that much power or weight. He was pushing 18 lbs+ as an airframe weight due to the substantial strengthing that was needed and the weight of the fan/motor (which is heavy) and then the batteries. He had very high landing speeds due to the weight, and when his controller gave up there was some bad damage that resulted from the emergency landing. I think his flights were barley 3 min....again - weight was the enemy as was the high amps the system uses.
A better way to go with the Byrons is to use the E-Byro fan. Just as much or more power than the OS 91 Byrofan combo and you can use pretty much a stock built airframe. My F-16 is about 13.5 lbs RTF. Not a speed demon - but that's not what Byron's are. It's just as fast or slightly faster than the glow powered bird. I can also get 5+ min depending on the motor used
If you want a go fast plane - sell the Byron and go with a different manufacture.
03-03-2011, 09:35 AM
#7
RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
What is the best fan package for the Starfire? I still have one I want to convert one day to. 10 Min flights min.
It also comes with nice ducting for a 100mm fan.
here is the kit:
http://www.tamjets.com/original/prod...roducts_id=485
For fans you could run the TJ100 HP for great power or also the new Stu Max 100mm for great performance and sound. I personally love great sounding fans so would run the Stu Max 100mm.
Here is a link to both:
TJ 100 HP : http://www.tamjets.com/original/prod...roducts_id=419
Stu Max: http://www.espritmodel.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=13656
with the stu max in 12s run the 1521 1.5y
If you use 12s 35c + 6500 mah packs you can expect 7:00 flight as the norm..... build it very light, don't over build it.
Use tams landing gear and light wheels, should be a really nice setup
hope that helps
Ron
03-04-2011, 09:35 AM
#8
RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
ORIGINAL: Ron101
It reduces the inlet size, this makes the airframe much cleaner getting rid of those huge inlets.
It also comes with nice ducting for a 100mm fan.
Ron
It reduces the inlet size, this makes the airframe much cleaner getting rid of those huge inlets.
It also comes with nice ducting for a 100mm fan.
Ron
Ron,
Some like the look of the smaller inlets, but I hope you don't mean that the 'huge' inlets are an impediment to performance. It's not like there's a big drogue chute at the end of that inlet, and that plane with the stock inlet on that XPS system can outrun pretty much any DF out there, including the ones with the 'cleaner' airframe.
03-04-2011, 11:53 AM
#9
RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
Well you have a point there Sean...lol
There is nothing wrong with a good old dynamax in there either with the stock ducts.... they fly great.
No as far as the XPS setup.... those guys are running 15s and what has to be over 7000 watts to break 200 mph.
Flight times are like 3:00 maybe.... but scary fast
Flight times would be much better on 12s 6500 and there smaller, lighter xps 4000 watts setup. not the xps pro setup which is idea for 14 to 16s
lots of ways to do it and have fun
There is nothing wrong with a good old dynamax in there either with the stock ducts.... they fly great.
No as far as the XPS setup.... those guys are running 15s and what has to be over 7000 watts to break 200 mph.
Flight times are like 3:00 maybe.... but scary fast
Flight times would be much better on 12s 6500 and there smaller, lighter xps 4000 watts setup. not the xps pro setup which is idea for 14 to 16s
lots of ways to do it and have fun
03-04-2011, 01:50 PM
#10
RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
Hi,
Yeah, higher flight times would be better, that's for sure. I'm installing the 'light' setup in an F-16 now on 11s, so we'll see how that goes. While it's true the fan is heavier than most, it sure does sound awesome and there are just so many airframes out there that were designed around this fan in the first place that it's worth the weight disadvantage in my mind. I'm no expert, though. The nice thing about some of these birds, though, is that you don't need to be flying them WOT all the time. Certainly not the Starfy.
Yeah, higher flight times would be better, that's for sure. I'm installing the 'light' setup in an F-16 now on 11s, so we'll see how that goes. While it's true the fan is heavier than most, it sure does sound awesome and there are just so many airframes out there that were designed around this fan in the first place that it's worth the weight disadvantage in my mind. I'm no expert, though. The nice thing about some of these birds, though, is that you don't need to be flying them WOT all the time. Certainly not the Starfy.
03-04-2011, 09:57 PM
#12
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RE: Byron F16 and Starfire II EDF conversion with XPS
There's been quite a few converted. Most with the byron unit, 1 with the EVF, and 1 I know of with the XPS. No real reason to go with the XPS due to the drawbacks I mentioned and the OS 91 powered one is fairly spritely, so the e-byro one goes very well.
Rc Groups is the place to go for all of the info though.
Rc Groups is the place to go for all of the info though.
