That's the real limitation of EDF's. Their exhaust velocity is so much lower than a turbine that they have to move a large amount of air for equivalent thrust. Since full-scale jets use turbines, most scale jets have too small of an intake(s) to perform well - at least as well as a turbine.

I was talking to a guy who was thinking about doing a PCM Models L1011 as an EDF. It would *have* to be done as a twin because you simply could not move enough air through the center engine intake - regardless of which fan unit you tried - to make it perform anything like it does on a single turbine.

EDFs are cool, but I don't expect them to replace turbines - at least not for scale projects. Even if the price comes down and the batteries get better.

Bob