Hi everybody,
I'm still writing from Italy, old Europe.
I have a question for you. I'm plainig to put an ely engine on a 3D aircraft, so I'd like to know what do you think about.
I have one Ripmax 3D Extreme that performes very well on a Thunder Tiger Pro 46 (for me very good piece of work, runs strongly and it's very reliable), runned for 100 hours whitout problems and performance maintening.
So now I'd like to replace it, I'm thinking about using a Thunder Tiger pro 50 Hely, similar weight, and seems to have the same crankshaft than Pro 46, so no problem with prop.
What do you think about??
Please answer me because I have to buy one new engine as soon as possible.

Thanks everybody.
Cheers (Ciao in italian language)

Andrea

I've seen a couple of Heli engines on regular airplanes at one of our local
flying fields. Seem to work OK. The carburetors have more adjustment because
helicopters need a more reliable running engine. More trouble to adjust but
maybe worth the extra trouble.

tommy s

I have used Heli engines on planes for years.
The engine will not know it is in a plane.............

The engines are basically the same, some are actually the same. There are some heli engines with a shorter shaft and some with different carbs, but it doesn't matter as long as you can mount it and put a prop on it.

Some people have asked about that bigger heat sink head hanging out in the breeze and cooling the engine too much. It has never given me a problem even in cold northern winters.

I'd say go for it! Extra power is never too much....
And heli engines seem to be much more reliable, so the dead-stick probability is very low.

If you use the TT 50 Heli' let us know how it goes. I have an Xtreme that hasn't quite got enough on an SC 53 so do lut us know what happens.

Hi Wowbagger,
I had two Ripmax Xtreme. Very good airplane!!
The first, now sold, flied with a Thunder Tiger Pro 46, 15% sintetic oil, 3% bean oil, 7% nitro, turning an 12,6x4 Eco Cam Prop (Graupner, I think it's not available in Usa), at 12200 rpm on ground. With a dry weight of 2150 gr. it hovers slightly over half trottle. The Eco cam Prop, have tremendous efficiency, and very low weigth compared with APC props, so this means fast transition on trottle and more rpm.
So now, I have the second one needing an engine. I'm really in trouble with your suggestions on which engine to use. Mhhhhh, may be the TT 50 Hely the better choice or not? I think I will buy it, and for sure I will let you know what happens!!

For EagleOne: I think is true that hely engines can be more reliable, but I also think that a good airplane engine, with correct glow plug, good fuel and fine tuned is just the same. My first goal on using an Hely engine is to have slightly more power with the same weigh, avoiding to use a .60 engine (and the 14x4 needed) and the bad sidetrust effects sperimented on a similar airplane of a friend of mine who mounted a Webra .60.

Sorry for my bad english, hoping it's understandable...

Cheers.

Andrea