ORIGINAL: whaturi
gas is pretty much useless under 40 or 50 cc. glow is better for small planes. i used to want to have a small gas plane until i realized performance would be terrible compared to a cheaper glow engine. if you do it, remember it will be for novelty, not performance.
Interesting opinion, but it is just that, HIS OPINION... And, since he can't speak from experience with gas engines under 40 or 50 cc and I can, let me tell you this: I am one of several people on these forums who have put the 26cc class of gasoline engines on the Showtime and we've all had great success. It is a little heavier, true, but can you notice the difference in flight? Probably not. Mine stands up on its tail violently when I come in low and do a wall, or it can be very graceful and docile during pattern maneuvers. I did not have to add weight to the tail to balance it.
I use gas, glow, and electric, and they all have their places. The fact is that gas engines are getting smaller, electric engines are getting larger, and glow is classicly useful in pretty much all airframes except the smallest and the largest. If you want to know if this combo will work, let me tell you with certainty FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE, yes it will work and it will work very well!! There is no "novelty" about the way my ST4D performs.
-Pat