Hello everybody,

I want to get a highly-capable practice plane for the Magnum 91FS I have on the shelf (the engine is roughly identical in power to the OS 91 Surpass I). I want a plane capable of about any pattern, even though I am not necessarily. I can muddle through the Advanced pattern and keep it in the box. I just want a smaller plane to burn a lot of fuel while protecting my larger, more expensive 2m.

I have my eye on a few planes, most notably the Hyperion Helios 90e (probably the best size), Sebart Angel S (maybe too small?), Fliton Inspire 90, Venus II (too heavy for the engine), and the Focus Sport (very nice plane). I could add the Hyperion Katana to the list because it now sells for $199 shipped, although I don't necessarily the 1-piece wing (or the pink...).

I just sold my YS 1.10 and traded another engine for the Mag 91, so I don't want to purchase another engine at this time.

Any opinions on these planes? Although I love to build, I would prefer an ARF.

Thanks!

Brett

I want to add I am looking for the plane to fly STRAIGHT and TRUE on any line, etc. This is far more important to me than absolute power-to-weight. I needs to track extremely well up, down, 45*, etc, and needs to roll straight. Minimal coupling is also very nice.

Not trying to be a smart-derrier but I'd get rid of the Magnum and find a good used YS-110S. I'm not a big fan of Magnum engines and am not sure there's a good airframe out there that large enough to be a good trainer AND be small enough to be able to work with that motor.


PS - I have a Venus II and am selling the OS 120 I had in it to buy a YS 110. Nothing wrong with the OS, I just love YS engines! The Venus II is a great flying airplane for what you want.

I also have a couple of 1.20 4-stroke engines including a YS 1.20NC and an Enya R120. I just wanted to know if something would work with the smaller, more fuel efficient .91 engine.

Lemme know what you find--
I decided to go with a EFlite 90 sized electric motor --and bought a HV ESC to go with it
This allows me to simply add a A123 cell at a time til I hit 40 volts !! The ESC is a Cvclon 80HV(for high voltage)
the object will be to increase voltage --till I can run UNDER 50 amps
My frien Colin is running 55 volts (16 , A123) and direct charging the setup---- (no charger)runs cooler MORE power Not legal for FAI but we DGAS. flights wil be a little under 10 mins --so what.
PS I finally got rid of that lousy leg - I get a new one in a couple of months --

50A at 40V is monstrous power, approaching YS 110 territory. Figure around 10,500 on a 14x10? Will the motor hold up at high RPM like that? Sounds fun!

As far as planes go, I probably have the BEST 91-size plane sitting in a box in my basement right now...the Runaround. I forgot about it until I saw your post. I just don't have time to finish it now. That would work with your electric setup, wouldn't it (if you can get the batteries to fit)

I am really sorry to hear about that leg. I know you have been fighting that thing for at least 20 years or more. I hope the new one will be an improvement!

I've got a Runaround all sheeted and ready for hard points. And one of Dick's Zlins at the same stage. For some reason I haven't wanted to be in the basement since the end of January and now I'm paying for it! I'm trying to decide between the OS 1.20 AX and the YS110 for the Zlin. I have a saito 100 for the Runaround. I still haven't found electric to be the way to go in the larger sizes for the more casual flier like myself. Nothing easier than a can of gas.

OOOOOOO!! I second the Runaround (personal favorite)!! ANy chance the current owner of the molds can/will make any more??
-Will

Rich Lee still makes the runaround. I think it was $275 for glass fuse/wing and stab cores.

In fact, here is his latest price list:
Runaround: $275.00
Zlin (fiberglass): $285.00
Elite: $325.00
Excess: $375.00
Ariel: $400.00
EMC: $485.00

His email is richlee_AT_directinet.com

I agree with pappy, if you are "into" pattern why did you get rid of the superb ys110 and buy a rubbish magnum?

Consider the EPSILON 90 from CA Models, nice looking plane and very capable.

Thanks everybody for your comments, I really appreciate it. (I am serious, and not being facetious).

I will explain my logic. My intention was to put together a plane for Senior Pattern contests this summer which contests use pre-1976 planes and has a max 4-stroke engine displacement of .91, and no supercharging allowed. I was going to buy something like a World Models Intruder or get my old Curare flying again. A friend had a need for a YS 1.10, mine wasn't doing anything (sat in the box for a year), and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I traded another unused engine for the Magnum, so it didn't really cost me anything. I thought I was all set.

My plans changed. I am going out of state to work for the next couple of months, and then will move across the country (exactly 3,283.75 miles to be accurate) at the end of the summer. The new location doesn't yet have a chapter of SPA, but has an active IMAC and AMA/FAI pattern communities with combined total of 15 or so contests a year within driving distance. I want to spend more time flying the current patterns to compete without risking my more expensive/delicate 2m plane. I wondered if my current stable of engines would work.

For the sake of continuity, please ignore the word "Magnum" in this thread. It is completely irrelevant, as I could have just as easily said "OS", "Saito", "Enya", or "No-Name Brand". I honestly don't have anything against YS engines, in fact I truly like them. I just want to know which planes will fly VERY WELL on a 90 4-stroke. If I buy another YS engine, it would be a new 1.40 sport for my light 2M plane. I don't really have a need for a smaller engine at this time, and want to spend as little money as possible.

Of course I forgot about the Runaround. It would be phenomenal on a .91, as it is 740 squares and under 7#. It may be a 25 year-old old design, but it was FAR ahead of its time. I just don't want to build right now (my plane is ARC). Already paid for, but requires another 30-50 hours of work, covering, and all hardware (maybe $60 or so plus my labor?).

As I see it, the Venus II seems to be an excellent plane (for an ARF) with a good reputation. It will certainly require a 1.20 of some sort. It has the largest wing area of the bunch and is also the heaviest by at least a pound (read="durable"). 8.5#+. $220 from LHS.

The Hyperion Helios looks to be an excellent plane, but might be marginal on a 91? maybe around 7.5#. $359 shipped from ALLERC.com

The Sebart Angel S is gorgeous and seems to fly very well. It is smaller and likely isn't stressed for a nitro engine this large (perfect for a YS 63). Weight is likely around 6# plus a few ounces. $299 shipped from fedonaircraft.com

The Fliton Inspire 90 looks great, flies great from what I have seen, and likely will fly well on a 91 because it is quite light (10 - 15 oz less than the Venus II). Empty weight is 70 oz, so I calculate 83 oz RTF including servos and pushrods, minus electric motor and battery, so add another 25 oz for engine and mount, and another 12 or so for fuel tank, throttle servo, and flight pack battery (being generous), for 120 oz. Total weight 7# 8 oz. $299 shipped from Chiefaircraft.com.

I don't know much about the Focus, but it looks very nice. I will probably save 7 oz over the weight with the YS 1.10. 7.5# to 8# range sound correct? $400 shipped from Piedmontmodels.com, $350 shipped from Centralhobbies.com

My rubbish bin Magnum gives me essentially unlimited performance on a 7# plane (I get just over 9300 rpm on a 13.5x9 APC on 20%, a little better still on 30% heli), so I hope to stretch it a bit. That calculates to 9.6# of thrust and 69 mph efflux velocity on Pe Reivers excellent calculator.

Yes, I forgot about that one. Beautiful plane, I have heard many good things about it. $360 shipped from netboxhobby.com.

BTerry,
Does Rich Lee have a web page?

Not really. This is hosted on a local hobby shop's website [link=http://pages.prodigy.net/ka9lnp/rl.htm]When in Salt Lake City, go to Some Dude's Hobby Shop![/link]

He is on RCU, and will reply quickly via email. Insert an ampersand: richlee_AT_directinet.com

Does anybody have a comment regarding the capabilities of these planes, or are they all comparable? Is there a standout amongst the group? Are they all capable of P09?

Focus Sport, Angel S, Inspire 90, Helios, Venus II, Epsilon...

Have had the Venus II, It will fly everything through Masters fairly well. It is definitely a YS 1.10 or OS 120 size plane. Mine had an OS 120 in it.

I have an Angel S I am currently flying as a practice plane. It is designed to be an electric which mine is. It has a 5S setup that allows me to use me packs from my 2M electric Beryll. I have read some posts that some are putting OS 55's in them. Someone commented about using a YS 63 in this airframe. I definitely would not. To me it is too fragile to take the beating of a 4-stroke. It flys well for its size.

I'm sure the Focus Sport is a good flyer as is all of Dave Guerins stuff. It is a designed to run on the YS 1.10.

As far as the Inspire goes, I have no idea. Personally I think the Fliton airframes are too fragile in general.


You really need to finds a light 60 size airframe. The CA Models Widebody 60 is probably a good choice. Don't know if they are still available though. THe Helios 63 might be a good choice for the Magnum. Don't know much about it.

If anyone is interested in a WB 60 I happen to have one that I am just finishing up. It was going to a new home but that deal fell through so I was just going to finish it up to use to introduce people to pattern, but if someone here wants it we can work something out.

Joe,

Thanks for the excellent advice on the planes. On your Venus, which engine did you use? The OS 1.20AX 2-stroke or the 1.20 Surpass 4-stroke? I have a couple of 1.20 4-strokes I could use.

I have a ton of lipo and A123 battery packs in the basement, so perhaps an electric would work for me. I could probably get away with running 8S A123 packs in the Helios, or serially double up some 3S 2700 mAh Lipo's in the Angel.

Good point on the Fliton planes. I didn't know if the larger ones were a bit more stout. The smaller ones are excellent performers, but are very light and fragile.

Since I LOVE the smell of glow fuel in the morning I will look at one of the smaller 63-size planes for the Magnum 91fs. If I think of it as a YS .63 that weighs 6 oz more and will swing a larger prop I will be successful.

A friend had the Focus I and it was just about perfect. I am sure the smaller Focus Sport is also phenomenal.

Pete, PM sent.

I have the Helios 63e, and Ive flown (attempted) P07 with it. The plane is capable..Im not.
Ive reviewed the P09 schedule, and I dont see anything in it that the Helios couldnt fly.
You'd have to watch that triangle loop though. I found that pulling REALLY hard sharp corners on the downlines of a triangle maneuver, it will get loose on you. However, with practice you should be able to cut a nice clean corner without overdoing it. Its possible too that Im just coming down at too shallow an angle, and Im pulling late. Its one of the things I gotta work on.

Looking at the P09, I can see areas where the Helios would excel in certain maneuvers. The helios is very locked in on rolling maneuvers at any attitude. This is one of my favorite things about the plane, no track deviations during rolls. Any of the rolling vertical upline sections would be really nice. Spins with the Helios are absolutly georgeous, very smooth, not too fast, exits by just neutralizing the sticks. It will drop nose, and then enter the spin, with no wing wobble or anything.

I had a 1.20 AX on the Venus II.

My opinion of currently available A123 type cells at this time is that they are definitely fine on trainers and sport planes. Not so sure about weight penalty on high performance type aircraft with these cells yet.

On the Angel I am using 5350ma 5S packs. Easily/Safely get 9 minutes with these. I'm sure you can go with a smaller capacity pack around 4500ma no problem. My Angel is right around 6 lbs and could be made even lighter with the use of an Airboss 80A controller over what I am using right now.

What about this one:

http://www.hobby-estore.com/power-3d...plane-kit.html

I just opened a post about it, since it looks very much like the old Fliton Infinity which was an excellent flying plane below 7 pounds.