Hello again all,

I have a question that I still don't know the answer to. What is the diffeerence between Electric and Nitro plane. Example is the Nexstar trainer plane, I see the Electric and I see the Nitro. The electric is much expensive but I wanted to know the difference between them. Is the Nitro faster because it ran on nitro? Please tell me.

Thanks and happy Memorial day

Difference?

Usually none other than what kind of power turns the the propeller. And how much that costs.

When a specific airplane like a Nexstar begins life as a glowfuel model, the amount of power is usually part of the design. They develop the airplane as say a 40-size. And work out the details with that in mind. When it's then retrofitted, the motor, batteries, and ESC are selected that will fly that plane with power that matches what was available from the glowfuel version. Will there be a difference in performance? Only if the electric developer chooses a less powerful motor or a more powerful one.

Today's electric power trains wind up weighing significantly more than a glowfuel power train of equal power. So today, the electric version of any model will have a slight weight penalty. Most new modelers will not notice the difference in performance that comes from that weight.

The glowfuel Nexstar comes with an OS46fxi engine. That's about $100 worth of engine. A fuel tank is about $10.

The electric Nexstar has a $73 outrunner, a $100 ESC to control it, and $150 worth of NiMH batteries and charger. That's about $323 worth of power system. And doesn't use LiPo batteries that are lighter and have greater capacity. LiPOs that you might use with that motor would be around $75 each, and a charger with the technology to charge them would cost from ~$50 to over $150.

For the Nexstar EP, 2 batteries are required for flight. The RTF comes with 2 batteries, which will get you 7 to 10 minutes of flying, then you need to recharge. To have the maximum amount of fun with this plane, it would require a bunch of extra batteries (4 to 6 total, unless you got 2 or 3 big lipo's) and a good charger.

Electric is more money up front. However, glow fuel adds up. Electric is clean and quiet, glow fuel is great if you like playing with engines.

Thank you all for the information.

I am an EP Nut but for beginners who are cleary in need to stick time, go with nitro, its cheaper when you start to talk at the 40 sized class. Small EPs are fine but at 40 size they hurt enough.

I have flown both nitro and ep a lot now and I can say EP is truly fun but at a cost. EP is cleaner for me because I am getting lazy to clean up. EP power is much more fun but then towards then end there is a 'loss' of power as the voltage starts to drop unlike glow. EP has a faster throttle response but it clears your bank out faster too. For EP you get less flights unless you are prepared to pay for a lot of batteries. Still I love EP. Guess I am a real sucker for punishment.

I had this debate when I was looking to get back in the hobby.

I opted to go nitro.

I like the "realizem" to that of "full scale" models, in that they have a internal combustion engine, much like the nitro powered.

Sure, they say you cant fly them in as many places, the "noise" , which I like, and the "smell", again, I like, and the clean up of the nitro off the plane.

The clean up is really the "worst" part, but it also affords you the opportunity to look over the plane and see what is not right....

I love everything about the nitro.

In the end, its really up to you. Both have pros and cons. You just need to deiced what is right for you.

Good luck!

Nice, Jentzsh. I went through the same thing about a month before you (glow or elec?) and agree with everything you said - the sound, smell, realism, and yes, cleaning up is the 'worst' part, but it is a great opportunity to examine your plane.

There are only one or two guys in my club that are strictly electric. Most are glow guys with maybe a little electric thrown in the back of the truck for a windless day. I imagine I'll be there too one day (good reason to get a charger that can handle lipos, glow people!)

Its fun to tinker with engines for sure. For 4C engines, remove the muffler, use the breather for tank pressure and you get such a nice 'putt' 'putt' sound. Talking about realism, this is funny. I showed one my my pals the Aerosound unit, it is a sound module that will create the sound of scale engines for EP planes. My pal said this, "You go EP to be silent and now you want to install something to create the sound?" How right he is! We are nuts.