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Old 10-18-2006 | 10:11 AM
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Tired Old Man
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Default RE: 50-100cc Comparison - Need HELP!

Most people predetermine what plane they want to fly along with a general wingspan class. That determines what weight class they are intending to fly. The list of engines and sizes you have provided indicates that you don't have any idea at all what you intend to do and are simply "shopping" engines. I think more than a few of us anticipate that after a 6 month period of beating the engine numbers to death this same situation will come up with a plane selection list as well. Pick a plane before you pick an engine. Better yet, pick a size of plane that you intend to fly for a period of time. Then start looking at engines.

Most of the engines in each size class you have provided do pretty much the same thing as another in it's class. RPM numbers have too much diversity due to propellers used, altitude, muffler used, and owner tuning knowledge/ability to provide an accurate baseline. Performance levels are often a matter of perception. A perfect example is when an engine is described as having "authority" in pulling out of a hover. Just what the heck is "authority"? Weight of the aircraft has a profound impact on the engines ability to pull the plane. Is it a biplane or a mono plane? That also has an impact. What price range can you, and want to, afford? If you are designing an aircraft most would first determine the task that the aircraft is to fulfill then determine what engine size and type will power the craft.

Essentially what you have done is to have provided the perfect thread to begin an engine war of epic proportions and I don't think anyone wants to get it started. I don't believe that many carry much faith in manufacturer HP numbers as well. Those that provide HP numbers usually provide a number that appears high because, if it's accurate at all, was obtained at an rpm level that will rarely, if ever, be reached in modeling applications. Therefore that number is useless.

Worse, you built a list that fails to include some engines that may well be superior to those listed on it. Your personal location suggests in the abstract that this may not be for sport modeling, which impacts the engine facts you are trying to develop to an even greater extent.