hey guys


im building a profile kit and im at a high altitude
so i need to build as light as possible,

this is also my first kit
i dont know if thats a good combo but im gonna try it anyways.
ok so what could i do that would make it lighter besides a smalles NiMH battery
-Felix

The Burrito's a very light design: I don't know of anything I'd feel safe doing to it. My advice would be to go with it as designed.

Our elevation here is over 1200 feet (about the same as Scottsdale) -- and we don't think of that as high unless you compare it to the nearest town which is only a few miles away but over 500 feet below us -- and we don't even think about elevation in choosing airplanes. We also have ridges nearby that are close to 3,000 feet and there's a lot of glider activity around.

I think the Burrito will do jsut great for you.

The way to end up with a light model is to take a total approach to the problem. Examine every piece of wood in the kit and throw out the hard stuff. Replace lite-ply with balsa, if feasible. Look at the weight of the engine- 2 stroke is lighter than 4-stroke and plain bushing is lighter than ball-bearing. Minimize the amount of glue used, especially epoxy. Choose light wheels. Don't use heavy fabric covering. Go for the smallest size servos that can be used. Get a smaller than standard receiver. Use a 250mah nicad pack instead of a 600mah pack. Even a wood prop may be lighter than a plastic prop. Position components carefully to balance the model without having to add lead ballast.

For the altitude, first try using a higher nitro fuel. If you are using 15%, try 25%. The added nitro usually helps substantially. If you still have a "power" problem, use a larger engine along with the higher nitro fuel.

That is a reasonably light plane. It would be difficult to lighten it up while still keeping it structurally strong. For the battery, I would not suggest using anything less than a 600 mah battery. The little bit of weight more than out weighs the possibility of the battery dying while you are in the air.

If its a 40 size plane, go with a 46 size engine. They have the same block as the 40, just bored out whcih means that the 46 usually weighs less than the 40 and gives you lots more power![8D]

Also, keep the tail light and start checking the CG early on so you can position the heavy components to have the CG come out right without having to add any weight anywhere.

I think a profile makes a great first kit. Compared to other types of kits, they are very easy to build and, more important, very easy to cover.

hey guys thanks for the help,

i actually dont fly in scottsdale anymore i fly in flagstaff where i go to school.
there we have a 25% powerloss over sea level.

were at 7000'ASL up there...

thnaks for the help
Felix