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Engine increase factor for float plane conversion?
Is there a rule of thumb for how much to increase the recommended engine size when putting a land plane on floats? How much more power is needed in order to compensate for the added drag?
I'm not interested in 3D or breaking the sound barrier. TIA |
RE: Engine increase factor for float plane conversion?
Most guys I know don't bother changing the engine...they accept that it will be a bit heavier and a bit slower than the same plane on wheels. The only models I have seen that had troubles due to lack of power were the smaller 25 and 1/2A size floatplanes..
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RE: Engine increase factor for float plane conversion?
I also think that if you have something like an OS .40 you probably need to up size a tick. I have an Avistar with that engine and she could barely break away from the water. I went to an os .46 and it was like a whole new plane!
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RE: Engine increase factor for float plane conversion?
My 80" Midwest Citabria flies very well - on wheels - with a Saito 91. On floats I wish I had a significantly larger engine, maybe a 1.20. My floats are pretty much scale, so each one is about the size of a .40- or .60-sized plane fuselage.
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RE: Engine increase factor for float plane conversion?
ORIGINAL: driedjello I also think that if you have something like an OS .40 you probably need to up size a tick. I have an Avistar with that engine and she could barely break away from the water. I went to an os .46 and it was like a whole new plane! I converted a Easyfly2 to a float plane and I could barely get it off the water. I'm going to try a .46 engine. |
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