Matt:


<The numbers I quote are for direct drive.>
Understood. I'm wondering, though, if there would be any real advantage or purpose in using a gear drive for this application....say, a 5~6:1 with a huge prop? Waste of time/money?

<What brand LiPolys are you considering?>
I truly don't know; just looking for the best value overall.

<but this is a speed plane, so you probably should get 3S3P>
This makes sense to me.


<don't fly full throttle all the time>.
Unfortunately, I'm a full-throttle kinda guy(!) I can't imagine this plane being able to "cruise" along at half-throttle since the wing loading is so high. Probably best to go with the upper end of the recommendation. Of course, I may have to wait till spring to get enough coin together!


<Also consider that the E-streak has a narrow fuselage, and certain LiPoly cells will not fit. The Etecs are pretty narrow, and will fit in the same width as two Sub C cells side-by-side, as are the ThunderPowers.>

Another good point; I hadn't even considered that any of the LiPos were that wide! The fuse holds two sub C's side-by-side but there is *NO* spare room; You'll never find an ElectroStreak rattling....there's just no room for that!

Now taking a little bit different approach.....the next issue: Apparently this plane can fly well with the Mayhem or the Endo. I'm assuming it will fly even better with the Astro 15....but now I'm wondering if that wouldn't be a waste, of sorts.
I've read that the Astro 15 Gear motor will fly a ".40 size" conversion and I'm considering this. If it's true that it'll work for this (I've got a SureFlite P-39 on the way and a TT42 ready for it) then maybe I'd better off to just get the Mayhem for the streak(?) and stick the Astro w/ gearbox on the P-39? Too many options!