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Old 11-13-2005 | 08:08 AM
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Leo
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From: Gothenburg, SWEDEN
Default RE: How much engine do scale twins really need?

ORIGINAL: Jetjockey_3

With scale twin warbirds, you will need a ton of weight in the nose to balance them.

Cary
(quote) That may be true on the Mosquito and many other twins. However, my 117" span, .91 four stroke powered Commander twin, balances well with no nose weight added. A flying weight of 26,5 lbs. makes for scale performance and a convincing "scale" speed.

Bigger engines also means a heavier structure and a higher wing loading. If I had beefed up the structure of my plane during construction and installed G-38´s, I guess the flying weight would have exceeded 40 lbs.
(I am referring to the Ziroli twins of a similar size)
I believe that a twin with "power to spare" and scale sized props is more likely to roll over if one engine quits.

As having no single-time on my Commander yet, I´m not sure whether the plane will maintain altitude on one engine. According to a full scale Commander web site, the plane is "quite happy to be trimmed for straight and level hands-off on one fan"
I think I would just cut the throttle and make a dead stick belly landing. Fortunately, my local flying field offers big grass areas surrounding the runway

The plane is electric powered at the moment, but I am thinking of going back to IC power as I am missing the sound of the four strokes.
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