What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

Just wondering, before taking on say, a Homelite conversion, what kind of aircraft could I actually fly with it? They have those reasonably priced ARF Extras and Edge aircraft at that Troy Built models website, but could I actually get the Edge 540 or Extra, and fly it with a 26cc Homelite? There's a lot of videos of engine conversions spinning props on youtube, but only a couple are actually mounted to any sort of airframe. Most seem to be on SPADs, which I'm not really crazy about.

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

Well, why not try a larger conversion, say 45>cc. I am presently flying a QQ Yak54 with a converted 62cc husquarvna saw engine. Conversion was straightforward and more than enough power. Good luck, red

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

I have a McCulloch 32cc on EI on a Ultra Stick Lite 120, an old Pioneer 52cc saw engine on EI on a 85" wingspan extra 330, a Poulan 21cc on a really big trainer type platform (haven't flown this one yet), the other two that aren't completely assembled are a 40 size ultra stik type plane with a Poulan 18cc and a Goldberg Edge 540 that I'm going to put a Poulan 46cc on.

Having only flown the USL and Extra, the USL flies with authority, it will pull out of a hover but barely and depends on prop, so far the Extra flies about the same but I only have one flight on it...

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

The 61" span Christen Eagle flew very nicely on a Homelite 30cc, as does the blue 72" span Giles 202. The big 76" span yellow Tiger Moth flies great on a Ryobi 31cc. The Giant Fokker Eindekker flew in a scale like manner with a Honda 31cc four stroke. (Would loop from level flight.) The Giant Stik has a homemade twin cylinder engine. It is made out of two Echo 24cc engines. A very short take off, followed by an aileron roll, then straight into a vertical climb is the usual take off routine for that one. In the old picture of mine with multiple planes, the 66" low wing cream colored plane has a Homelite 25cc in it, the Ultra Lite 120 has a Homelite 30cc in it, the 72" span Katana has an Echo 25cc in it. I also have a Great Planes Fokker Triplane that flies great on an Echo 23.6cc engine.

The conversion engines are slightly heavier and slightly less powerful than the latest commercial offerings for planes, but I sure get a lot of good use out of them in many different planes. (And spend very little money doing it!!) Until a fairly short time ago, basically ALL gasoline airplane engines were actually converted engines.

AV8TOR

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

The Zenoah G23 was around a long time, the G26 which replaced it has been on the market for 9 years already.

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

All of my large stuff has conversion engines. The D7 in the attached photo had a Echo CS510EVL. I started with an EFCO 39cc. My Big Bee has a BME 50cc clone made from a short block. I flew a 4-star 60 with a 21cc stihl for some time.

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

This Fokker Dr1 of mine has a relatively stock Echo 23.6cc engine in it. Flies great with no lack of power!

I've had good luck with the Homelites and they run well, but my favorites are the Echos. They have more power than the Homelites and are a good bit lighter.

AV8TOR

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

How does the DR1 fly? Does it pitch up when you add power from the drag of the top wing? Bad adverse yaw? I've been contemplating one from BUSA.

RE: What kinds of planes are guys using converted engines in?
 

Not much trim change with power adjustments on mine. I added rudder mixed in with aileron to help with the adverse yaw. Now it rolls fairly nicely. For some reason adding down elevator during rolls doesn't help and just makes them weird. Better to just let them be barrel shaped. It does great Immelmann turns however.

AV8TOR