I'm currently working on a A/P plane to carry up some video equipment. Eventually I'd want to mount the engine in the back and the camera in the front of the plane. One thing I've been told is 2 strokes run very hot. Placing them in the back of the plane moves them out of the airflow that cools them. At that point they overheat, so a bigger heatsink should be used. Two other suggestions were helicopter 2 strokes with the bigger heatsink, or use a 4 stroke.

I started out with a 4 stroke on my (puller) pattern plane earlier this year and have noticed a difference in tempature. Most of the heat seems to be around the exhaust header, while the rest of the engine remains very cool. The 4 stroke offers better fuel economy, so I'd rather use a 4 stroke than a 2 stroke engine. Placing the exhaust header out in the passing air isn't that big of a deal. I haven't really tried the idea, just throwing it out there. Anyone else played with 4 stroke pushers?

--Scott