broke_n_bummin

A friend of mine gave me a Gull 1800 a few weeks ago, and I had a question about the battery. This thing came with an Astro 05 Cobalt and a Pegasus 35P ESC. The ESC says for use from 5 to 18 cells. I had put together a 12 cell 2500 mAH NiMH pack, but rarely used over 1/2 power. The batteries got pretty hot and only lasted maybe 3 minutes at best with the 8X4.5 folding prop. To me, the whole thing seemed a little heavy for a sail plane. The motor and battery pack alone weigh almost as much as my .70 Surpass. Would it be possible / practical to use a Venom 3000 mAH 7.2 volt pack? I've tested it on the bench, and got almost 7 minutes at 3/4 power, and it is a little lighter, but it's only 4 cells. I tried removing the astro and installing a speed 600 and 12V pack, but apparently, the plane was built for the astro, because even with the battery all the way up against the motor, the thing is WAY tail heavy. As heavy as it is, it will still slope decently. the only time I even use the motor is to follow the crows and buzzards from the ground to the thermals. It's no "Bird of Time", but with the wind just right, I can maintain in a thermal for a little bit. I'm just trying to get it a little lighter.

Slope Flyer UK

How about constructing a new, lighter tail ?.