Bob,

It's basically because the UK lags the rest of the world by about 12-18 months. Everyone else in the world enjoys the benefits of LiPo while we still fly our models using coal and steam. You may have noticed that not only don't any (but the most educated) UK suppliers stock LiPo but there's very little mention made in the magazines ever. Same goes for the use of brushless.

Thank God for people like Ian Ankers at www.e-flight.co.uk and John at Puffin. Walter at Hillcott and Gordon Tarling (though he's now ceased) also deserve a mention. However they represent the exception to the rule.

I end up buying most of my stuff in the US or from Dave at www.aircraft-world.com in Japan. I got Kokam 1020s, HE1100's and HRSC2600's and a Triton (LiPo capable) charger from the US long before there was any sight of them in the UK. I also have got Etec 1200''s from Dave at A-W.

One day, perhaps, the UK will catch up!

Cliff

PS A mildly amusing anecdote is when I was after HRSC2600's I emailed Overlander about availability and was told that they were inferior, under perfoming cells and they had no imminent plans to stock them!?! Go figure! (maybe they don't want to sell us the good batteries as we can fly longer and therefore need fewer - or is that a little too cynical?!?)