I'll second your space requirements. A 900 x 500 ft field at the very least. Only a very experienced pilot could take off and land at a football field, even then you'd be constantly turning it around and trying not to hit the goal posts or lights and to me it would take the fun out of flying it. I'm not an experienced pilot and having flown the electristar wouldn't even attempt it.

I have though experimented with different batteries and props. There are others who have posted their own results in other threads. So I'll attempt to create a chart here of what I have personally measured for myself. I've only been able to meaure static amps with a fluke clamp meter so the following are static numbers at full throttle. Average cruising speed is half throttle or slightly better. After cycling the NIMH batteries a few times they finally gave me around 15 minutes with all three props. I spend most of my flying time just floating around. However, I wanted more power on takeoff and to get me out of trouble. The 12x6 seems to have more pulling power with less amps than the 11x7 and the 13x6.5 has the most pulling power.

With 14 cells nimh 3000mah
Stock Hobbico 11 x 7 = 28 amps
APC 12 x 6E = 24 amps
APC 13 x 6.5E = 33 amps

With Lipo 5 cell (not compatible in stock setup, I've upgraded the ESC to handle 5 cells)
Haven't tried it with 11x7
12 x 6E = maximum is unknown as it overspeeded the motor just past halfway, I set the endpoint so it drew 30 amps at full throttle
13 x 6.5E = again, maximum unknown, set endpoint at 35 amps, full throttle

I probably need a 13x8 to get up to any higher amps. At this time I'm satisfied with what I've got.


I haven't tried a 4 cell lipo but measurements from other indicate it performs better than the nimh, because of better sustained voltage and its greater power to weight ratio.