I'm planning on building an Aero Works Yak 54 .90-1.20 size that weighs aprox 10-12lbs fully built. I'm trying to decide between a DLE 35RA or the Mintor 38cc. I simply want the engine to hover the aircraft around 3/4 throttle and blast it into the sky at full throttle and I also NEED it to be reliable above all else. I like the 35RA because tower has them and Ican use the $50 off code which would make it a lot cheaper than the Mintor. However, the Mintor is one sexy engine.

I'm also open the suggestions if someone knows of a more powerfull lighter weight engine that won't cost more than these two.

Heard very good reports on the EME 35.

Check the engine weights carefully. That airplane with a gasser will be closer to 12 lbs then 10. I have had airplanes with the same wing area and IMO the cutoff weight for good performance is 10.5 lbs. It's really difficult to get a gasser under 50cc to be lightly loaded enough to have really good performance.

Some of the newer 30 sized planes come pretty close to 50 and larger performance but I certainly agree regarding the airplane choice.

Unless you already own the airplane, I would recommend one of the new airplanes designed around the 30 sized gassers rather than the older design that were more suited to glo power. You'll probably end up with a lighter structure with more wing area / lighter wing loading and in general, a more pleasant flight experience. If Aero Works is your choice, they have several kits including a new Extra and Edge. All the popular companies have similar designs.

As far as engines, I'd probably stay away from Mentor until they get their company back on track and have taken care of the people who are having problems with their current engines. No, I'm not bad mouthing them as they appear to have some excellent products ... they just had some quality control problems then a management / reorganization of the company. The DLE would be a good choice and there are several others that would appear to be a good such as OS, EME, etc.

I played with the Mintor 38cc. Beautifully crafted engine, the strongest cases and cylinders you'll find anywhere, lightweight, with excellent field manners. Powerwise good enough for most sport flying. If the plane is 11 lbs give or take, you'l have no problem hovering and punching out

I just started playing with the DLE35RA. A really nice engine also. I re-seated the reeds on mine since the cage was a little concave but now that the intake is tight, super simple to draw gas and start in two flips. The field manners are a tad better. Power is slightly better than the Mintor 38 at about the same level of break in.

Won't go wrong with either engine I don't believe.

Another engine that had similar performance that I played with was the PTE36R. I had version 1; there is a version 2 out currently and is supposed to be better inside. My version 1 needed some work on the reed cage to get proper sealing. It was easy enough but if you don't know what you're doing there, best leave it alone.

Another good looking engine (I have no experence with it but a friend has one) is the RCGF32. Similar output to the others from what I see friend's engine doing.

The strongest by considerable margin but most expensive of the bunch is the OS GT33. I absolutely love this powerplant. The extra70-100 bucks is worth ever penny to me. With the Tower supersaver I get mine for about 360 which is impossible to pass up. I have 4 of theseNIB; andafifthsees action as often as possible.

Never really thought about that since I've heard of a bunch of people putting gassers in these Yak's. I just love the way they fly and how easy they are to control while trying to do 3D, referring to Yak 54's in general.

I guess I will revisit the AW Free Style Extra 260 30cc. I'm more of a fan of how the Yak looks, but Iwill fall in love with any sporty plane that performs great.

You should take a look at  http://www.agaperacingandhobby.com/v...?productid=394
convertible to side or rear exhaust.Great price.

That plane, with a 960 sq in wing, doesn't have the wing area to handle 11 or 12lb or do 3D well. It's too small, plain and simple. It needs to stay well under 10lbs? Not saying it won't fly, it will. Either of those engines will toss it around like the proverbial rag doll. But, with a 30 in it, it's a snap happy handful. Been there.... lesson learned. DLE 30 at 11lbs .....

Thanks for the heads up, ahicks. I will be switching models then, but at least I know I'm looking for an 11lb plane for the 35cc gas category to get the performance I want. I would go up to a 50cc but I really don't have cash for that.

Thanks everyone so far on the comments but keep them coming. Looking for fresh ideas.

Turk1, that engine you mentioned is much heavier than the DLE 35 at the same rated power level. Thanks though.

You can go up to 13-13.5lbs and get pretty good performance with the DLE 30. After that Yak lesson I bought a Chinese (who knows who built it, no longer avail) Katana that's close to a 50cc size (80" w/1400sq in). It's 13lbs and does a pretty good job? Flying with the smallest prop I dare (APC 18x8W) hover power not a problem, but punch out is not stellar like an 11lb plane might be? Low speed play, as you can imagine with all that wing area, awesome....

Point being, with just a little more power coming from the engines you're looking at, I think it might fly like what you're looking for? Specs. probably the opposite extreme as that Yak.....

I had a Funtana, and I think that plane is about as small/light as you would ever want to go with a 30. 1050sq in/10.5 lbs.

Maybe that'll help your shopping, give you some ideas....
-Al

Go with the DLE 20cc engine, 8oz fuel tank, an IBEC and Li-ion battery. Build it as light as you can and I bet you will come in well under 10 lbs.

Thats in the 24oz per foot wing loading area and 1.5 to 1 power to weight ratio. If you can't 3D that it is not the planes fault.

Light planes fly great, heavy planes fly once.