Telemaster Sales UK

I have bought a 5'6" ARTF trainer, as a surprise gift for a friend in order to improve his flying. The usual engine for this type of is a 40-46 two stroke and I have seen them fly well on plain bearing engines such as the OS 40 FP or LA or the Thunder Tiger GP 42.

He owns a Laser 45 four-stroke.

Do you think that this engine will be powerful enough to fly the model or should he buy a modern two-stroke?

earlwb

What Laser 45 engine is this? I do not remember Laser Engines making a .45 engine, they made a .61 and later the .70 engine and then a number of larger engines.
But if it is a Laser 45 four stroke it should be fine on a trainer plane that flies OK with a 40FP engine. The two engines are likely about the same power output. Four strokes run larger props than 2 strokes do, so they tend to come out about equal.

Sport_Pilot

I think it will have lower performance in that it will fly slower, but would have about the same climb performance.  For a trainer flying slower is not a bad idea.  Should work well.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Earl and Hugh, I managed to dig up the fact that in the mid 80s there was indeed a LASER .45, that eventually became a .50 then lastly it was enlarged to .62. It was then discontinued and the .61 in a larger block came out and becoming the .61/.70 and .80, then the .61 was dropped. The .45 should fly any plane a bushing .40 would fly.

PS, go to laserengines.com and click on history, its scattered throughout the history page.

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

Or you could sell the Laser 45 on Ebay should fetch at least $100 and up to $250 with the box and instructions.

Buy a nice new ASP 52 for $55

Learning to fly with the old Laser 45 would be a bit like learning to drive in vintage Rolls Royce. Nothing wrong with it but a pity if you smash it up.

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

that 45 may be a collector engine and may fetch a nice price for it.

Telemaster Sales UK

My friend is a keen engine collector but all of his stuff is pretty old. He may well buy a more modern engine to suit the trainer but he might use the Laser which he has flown in a vintage model in the past.

Telemaster Sales UK

Well the trainer kit duly arrived safely at my friend's house in France. He has opted to buy a new Irvine 40 for the model. He did not want to risk the Laser in anything he didn't feel competent to fly. He has only flown vintage models in the past.

The Irvine should suit it well because the trainer is an Irvine Tutor!

mike109

G'day

The Irvine sounds like a good choice.

I have some total overkill engines in trainers. I have a Laser 70 in a Kadet Senior. Amazing engine - so easy to handle and so reliable.

I also have a Saito 90R3 3 cylinder Radial in another Kadet Senior. It is painted up as a Japanese Zero.

And most recently I have put an Enya 36 four stroke (the new AAC one) in a Kadet LT 25. I am hoping to test fly it tomorrow. It will eventually be painted up as a WWII English trainer.

All my engines start out in trainers or similar models. It helps me to get used to them before I put them in something more serious.

Cheers and I hope your friend enjoys his trainer.

Mike in Oz.