When to go gas?
 

Guys,
When do you decide to go with a gas engine over a glow?
Is it above a certain size?
Do they have the better power/weight ratio over glow?
Will they pull a plane as fast or is it sheer tractor tow power or?

Thanks.

When to go gas?
 

When I hit the five flights to the gallon of fuel mark....It was time to go gas... :)

When to go gas?
 

Gas engines have advantages and disadvantages over glow. The decision to go gas is really not based on size. The large glow engines today have taken that option away. Gas engines actually have less power per displacement than an equivalent glow engine. The advantages are: ease of operation, clean exhaust, hot exhaust (for smoke), reliable idle, virtually no inflight engine failure, low operating costs. Disadvantages: high initial cost, weight,and VIBRATION! Honestly, I prefer gas for ease of operation and cleanliness, but I HATE the vibration.

When to go gas?
 

I think 1/4 scale is the breaking point for gas vs glow. It of course depends on the type of plane and how much power is desired. A 1/4 scale cub might fly adequately and efficiently on a 1.50 glow, but a 1.50 will not give a 16lb Extra 300 unlimited vertical. In smaller aircraft below 1/4 scale, gas engines weigh too much for the amount of power they produce.

I fly only 1/4 scale planes, and I just switched entirely to gas.....for convenience (less equipment to carry) and economical flying. I was paying $3.00 per flight with glow....now I can fly for 2 weeks on $3 worth of gas. Gotta love it....and no cleanup.
PT

When
 

Above 40cc gas for sure, below 20cc glow is it. Between is a very gray area that depends on $$, the plane and what you are going to do with it.

engines
 

How adout 18 1/2 cc ?? For gas ...with the right pipe/or muffler?

When to go gas?
 

Same here!

Doug

Re: When
 

I agree
Depending on the type of flying you want to do the 23 cc engines are more than likely going to be way to heavy for the amount of power they make. A ZDZ 40 cc engine doesn't way any more than a G 23 and makes a lot more power.

Between the 50cc to 150cc you will get about the same power as glow 2:1.

And it is a lot cheaper to run :D
and cleaner
and more reliable