It should fly fine with a 54 class engine. You will need a longer take off roll. Just make sure to keep it light that plane really has very little wing area. My first one was VERY heavy (about 24 pounds dry) and had a RAM 750 that put out about 16 pounds on a good day. I needed about 500 feet of paved to get off.The perfect engine for that airframe is a WREN SS, light powerful and fuel efficent. The new Merlin 90 would also be a winner combo. I have another one half built (its been sitting for a few years now, but I will get back to it) That I will put one of the 18 pound 54mm engines in. Scott