Thanks for your interest.

Given this is not F3A but you guys know motors/esc better than anyone. Intending to go IMACing with an EF 78" EXTRA or a 25% PILOT. I'd like to stay with a 10S setup and wondering how these motors compare in performance and reliability:Hacker Q80 13 or 14 XS vrs Neu F3A vrs Plettenberg Advance 30-10. Regarding the NEU, I'm wondering if the gearbox is worth all the fuss.

Also would appreciate feedback on what make and model ESC works best with each of above motors.

Lastly, what flight time can I expect with a typical F3A x 10S x 5000 setup?

Consider also 12S sport flying set-ups, ie Hacker A60 series, for that airframe.

I have been flying the Neu for the last three seasons. Yes, there is some maintenance and a different sound but the power and throttle response are great. The pletty is dead solid reliable and sort of medium on power.
The big question I always have for E iMac is duration. A typical 10s pattern setup will give about an 8 minute flight. With a draggy scale airframe and two sequences per flight this could be a concern. Especially, with some of the extra time for non-scored take off and landing.
Dana's suggestion of twelve cells is a good one since higher voltage would be more efficient and allow you to carry more watts.
As for esc I always use Castle but the tend not to work with the higher pole motors.

FWIW, I am in the process of doing an electric conversion build of the Commander (AirMaster) 50cc from the World Models. It is a bit F3A ish and a little less IMAC. But it's big, bigger than 2m
http://www.airborne-models.com/html/...?ProductID=158

I decided to go with 10s setup (so I can use 5s packs), a Hacker Q80-7m and Mezon 130 ESC.
Of course, it hasn't left the ground yet, but the numbers and eCalc seem to think it will fly.

For high pole count motors, I would go Jeti (not a fan of CC)

I have been flying the EF Extra 300 for 3-4 years. I can do two IMAC Intermidiate schedules using 5000 mah. I am using CC ESC and the Hacker A60-7S V2 motor. I recognize that it would be better to have more capacity. However, I just ordered the Throttle-Tech (T-T) for this plane. I have been using the T-T in the pattern planes with very good results. I predict that using the T-T it will be no problem to complete two IMAC schedules with one 5000 mah battery. This is up to intermidiate schedule. I am not sure for Advance and Unlimited.

Thanks Vince...is that with 10S or 12S and what prop are you using?

You are welcome. I settle down with APC 21x13 W electric prop.

10 S. TP g8 - 25C

And you are flying 10S or 12S packs?

10 s

You can't go wrong with any of these motors. They are all dynamite and you will find each one of them used at the top level of the USA nationals in pattern. The geared motors give better breaking, which helps you from gaining too much speed during dives, so you can do rolls and have some control. They are probably the lightest option. The Pletty Advance is close in breaking and similar efficiency and is a totally awesome motor without the hassle of a gear box. I don't know a ton about the Hacker but it should be somewhat similar - guys use them and love them.

If you go on RC Groups there is a good thread about the 78" Extra. I hope it is my next airplane, and my choice would be to run the Advance on either 10S or 12S. Guys are running that motor with 10S in that airplane and doing fine. I asked a top pilot who flies the Neu F3A and he said the 1515 is probably a better choice for the 78" Extra. Not that the F3A is a bad choice.

The 78" Extra is a big plane and needs a lot more power than a 25% airplane. You can run a 25% on 8S, so all of these motors would be overkill. I have a 26% Sbach and it's getting a Neu 1512, a half-step down from the Neu F3A. I'm running 10S because it needs the weight in the nose. It is going to be ballistic.

BTW I fly the Advance in my 2M ship and have been running a Neu 1512 on 10s.

Because the 78" Extra is wide, your flight times will be a lot less than what we get in pattern planes. There is more drag with a wider airplane (and with a bigger wing span) so it's hard to compare. I would go with more capacity if at all possible. Or 12S.

There are a few important things to point out here:

A 25% IMAC airplane is usually designed to fly on a 30cc gas engine. As such, everyone flying electric (and even some flying gas) ends up adding weight to the nose since a gas engine has all that mass concentrated just behind the spinner. Batteries are too far behind the firewall so don't think bigger packs will get you there. I will have to jump through hoops to remove weight from the tail of my 26% and will likely still need extra weight in the nose even with 10S 5000mah batteries. So if you get the Pilot, save yourself some cash and get a motor that's not optimized for the lightest possible weight. An A60 Hacker would work well, the E-Flite Power 160, etc.

The 78" Extra has an 'electric version' - I don't know what the difference is, but at least electric power was considered in the design so hopefully you don't have to add weight to the nose. But you will still benefit from a bigger motor to handle the increased heat (Hence the Neu 1515 as opposed to the F3A).

The Neu F3A is optimized for pattern flying where they tried to remove as much weight as possible. The F3A is in between a 1512 and a 1515. The 1515 is a little longer and a little heavier, and capable of handling a little more power. It might be less expensive too. Since you don't have the same weight requirement in IMAC you don't need these 'pattern specific' motors and less expensive motors might actually be a better choice.

Motors turn chemical energy into power and the waste product is heat. You need a specific amount of power to fly an airplane, therefore generating a fixed range of waste heat. A motor with more mass will not get as hot as a motor with less mass given the same heat input. Heat has the biggest impact on motor life span. There is a good reason motors get bigger and heavier as you go up in power rating.

flyva, there is a pattern contest in Harrisonburg next weekend if you want to check out all the different setups in person.

I plan on being there with my Advance

I have an EF Extra 78 E version with AXI 5330 F3A and Jeti Spin 99 ESC. The CG is perfect on 10S 5000mAh (1.200 grams) and no ballast was needed, RTF is some 5.700 grams. I have used Fiala 20x12E and will try 21x12E this season in windy conditions for IMAC. For 3d I plan to use 22x10E also from Fiala. All in all very satisfied with this plane, can fly anything you throw at it.

One remark on Fiala props, they have very similar performance to APC but at 50% weight and are 10-12% less power hungry!

Velco

Here is my Inversa im using for IMAC Intermeddiate at the moment. Scorpion F3A motor, CC 120 HV and 4700mah 10s. About 7:30 mins of flight time.