Could any DA50 engine flyers tell me how heavy they think their plane can get before it begins to loose performance. We are talking Warbird performance here; not all out 3D stuff. I thinking of this engine for a 18-20 pound P-51 and wondering if that weight is pushing the envelope as their website says "works great for a 17-18 pound plane".

splais:

I have a feeling this question will have a lot of different opinions, but for what it's worth here's mine. I have both a DA50 & a BME50. I don't see why either engine couldn't power a 18-20 pound P-51 Warbird with some authority. I'm not talking 3D either. Your regular scale plane flying, a loop here and there, split S, hammerhead, etc, I see no problems. Both of these engines have a tremendous amount of power & thrust and IMO would be a ideal gas engine for a warbird.

On a lighter side, I don't think you'll be hovering a P-51, it just isn't right!

Do you have a personal preference between the BME and DA, or are they pretty much the same thing.


I thought the P-51 pilots used to hover in the top of a cloud and shot the nazis down as they flew by.

New DA-50, Meijlik 22x10, 7100 rpm, Aeroworks 31% Edge 540 19lbs. Hovers at 1/2 throttle. Unlimited vertical. On a 18lb mustang!!!!! Better name it BANSHEE.....

You'll have unlimited vertical and could probably hover a 20 lb plane...

Sounds like you are considering the New TopFlight ARF P-51 but either way...

These engines will ROCK the P-51... awesome power for some really fast, hi-speed passes... HUGE loops, etc... These engines out out close to 35# of thrust!

Not that it matters, but you WILL be adding some nose weight with these engines, but it doesn't matter... they are strong and light, the weight is to offset how light they are...


Biggest thing to watch for is how wide they are with muffler attached... the cowl of a TopFlight GIant P-51 is 6.5" wide...

A U.S. 41 fits inside just barely because of it's rear exhaust (even then the velocity stack will stick out)

Well, I have been found out. Yes, the 1/5 P-51 TF ARF. But DA says they have a wrap-around inverted muffler from slimline available should not have to cut anything out of the cowl sides.

Splais:

My personal preference is the DA. Seems to have a bit more power than the BME. And I was going to say/ask the same thing, it's going to be tight in the cowl. I would assume that the DA would be a better choice because of it's rear fed carb. The BME has the side mounted carb and you'd have to cut the cowl to shreds.

No wonder we won the war hands down, they where hovering in the clouds all along!
We Americans are sneeky that way....

I just mounted a DA 50 in the G.P. 1/3 scale Pitts Special. The stock muffler barrel made contact with the cowling so no go. This is a big cowling too. I can't imagine the stock muffler fitting in a P-51 cowling without much grinding away at the cowling. Wouldn't look good either. I just installed the Slimline Pitts muffler, and as you can see by the pictures below it should do the trick in the P-51, assuming the jug will fit in the cowling. The Pitts will weigh out at about 20 lbs. I had a Fuji 50 in my first Pitts and it had plenty of power for the big stuff. No 3-D, but then I don't fly 3-D so not an issue. Haven't started the DA 50 yet, but from what all I have read and seen; I am thinking it will perform even better. DA told me I can expect a 300 loss in RPM's with the Slimline. Apparently the new models of this muffler have been redesigned to provide less tube restriction.

The third picture shows how the stock muffler fits. Didn't like this, and as stated, it made contact with the cowling.