Dickw

No, I rejected cookies and also haven't seen a pop-uo for weeks! Dick

Derek did make some interesting engines. I recall him showing me his 0.15cc version of the Mills 0.75. I never saw it running, but he asured me it ran well. Dick

I just deleted the email assuming it was a scam. Dick

In my electric glider a few years ago I was trying a battery loaned to me by my flying buddy. Just over 100m up and approaching 150mph a smoke trail appeared behind the glider. It took me at least 30 seconds to lose the height and speed before I could make a safe landing close to me (the plane has a separate Rx battery). The three wing bolts were removed rapidly, and as I disconnected and removed the wing my buddy picked up the fuselage and shook the battery out - its own weight unplugged it. It is amazing how fast/easily you can do a battery change when the adrenalin is flowing 😲 I had to replace some wiring and clean up the insides, but the plane is still flying years later. I let my "friend" have his battery back.😀 Dick

The first computers in our office were dumb terminals linked to the head office main-frame. Eventually a single PC was installed and I learned a lot about it, including using MS-DOS, as I began to make use of it. One day I suggested to a senior manager that we could really do with another PC. His reply - "But that one is not full yet". 🤣 Dick

Word Perfect, Wordstar - ah! memories. OK, anyone remember Aston Tate's 'Framework' - spreadsheet, word processor and database all in one? Dick

Battery isolating plugs can be useful in some circumstances and work OK if properly made. On my Sebart Pitts access to the 6s battery was basically through the arc of the 17x8 prop. I wasn't too keen on that from a personal safety perspective so made a battery isolator from 4mm bullet connectors that was operated by a pushrod from outside the nose. Pull out for ON and push in for OFF. Radio power came from a separate BEC that was not supplied through the isolator so no risk to the radio/servo supply. That worked reliably for the 8 years of regular flying operation before a spar breakage in flight led to the abrupt retirement of the Pitts 😀 Dick

Mine looks like that as well, but the CAA OP ID and the 2025 expiry date are correctly shown shown on the "Member details" tab. What does it show on yours? Dick

No problem here. I paid for the CAA at the same time as renewing my BMFA several weeks ago and now my CAA shows up as valid until 17/2/2025 on my "Member Details" tab on the BMFA system. Perhaps it takes a few days to confirm the details between the CAA and BMFA systems. Dick

Isn't the clue to the make in the title of the photo? - "Handmade Model Plane Combustion Motor" Dick

If you are interested in LiFePo4:- These are the cells I bought back in 2012, and a photo is attached showing them built into my field box. https://eclipsebikes.com/battery-cells-accessories-c-70_69/headway-lifepo4-40152s-32v-15ah-p-197.html This is the battery I bought 2 of a couple of years ago to make into a 12v 48Ah battery. If I use this in conjunction with my 100 watt solar panel it will keep me going for a whole weekend flying away from home (including battery heating boxes). https://www.bmstechnologies.co.uk/product/tn-power-lithium-12v-24ah-leisure-battery-lifepo4-tn24/ Different sizes and types are available, and in both cases they can be bought cheaper elsewhere, but those websites will give you lots of options and proper data to aid your research. Dick

Back in 2012 I put together a 4s2p 30Ah 12v LiFe pack from 8 x 15 Ah electric bike cells. I have been using it for field charging since then. It is a bit down on capacity now, but stil useable. The great thing about Lithium based cells is how light they are compared with lead acids. The other great thing is the superior performance - I get more charge out of my 30Ah than I ever did out of 80Ah lead acids, and it has lasted years longer. I also now have a 38Ah 12v LiFe battery as well. Dick

Only 1.6Kg ready to fly and 2m wingspan. Mine came ready painted with servos and linkages already installed. I prefer to chose my own power unit, but you can get them with a suitable motor/esc/prop installed for you. All you really need to do yourself is fit your own radio gear and then go fly. So is it a "park flyer"? 😀 Dick

I don't log flights in a spreadsheet or database, but I do note what I flew in a diary and usually something about the conditions. For some of my highly stressed competition models I do keep a log of flights and equipment for maintenance purposes. However, my transmitter does log my flights along with any telemetry data, so I can look at details of any particular model/flight for the last 10 years if I feel the need. I keep a backup of the Tx data log on my PC so I don't need to get the transmitter out to review data. Dick

Not seen them mentioned so far, but there are other brands that might suit, such as Biela https://www.iadmodeldesigns.co.uk/bielaprops.php or Fiala https://esoaringgadgets.co.uk/motors-propellers/fiala-prop-company/fiala-propellers.html Not as cheap as some perhaps. Dick

"Cold" makes a bigger difference than many people imagine. Comparative tests need to be at roughly the same battery temperature. Dick

I have been unable to post all morning - see post from Martin Harris Moderator about an hour ago. Seems it was linked to the cookie issue. Happily the problem seems to have been resolved as I am now able to post again 👍 Dick

I have seen 3v or even a bit below on extreme loads (e.g. 100 C) but the cells soon bounce back to 3.7v plus when the load is removed. A cell at 3.7v off load is effectively fully discharged I.e. flat Dick

Nothing wrong - both are correct. Storage and nominal volts are two different things. Dick

If you join the BMFA you can do their test here https://rcc.bmfa.uk/rcc The BMFA version of the test is aimed more at traditional aeromodellers rather than being "drone" centred, so the words are different but the test is similar. Membership of the BMFA includes insurance, and they can also do your CAA registration for you. Dick

I use 6s, 9s and 10s without any "anti-spark". Not had any problems yet over many years, so I would be surprised if sparks were an issue here. The spark actually tells you the capacitors are OK, so some people think they are a good indicator of a healthy ESC 😀. Dick

If you are a member of the BMFA, have a look here https://rcc.bmfa.uk/ Dick

I think that is the way the phone is set up, as mine (Samsung/Android/Chrome) doesn't look like that. Dick

Hi Robert I had to go out last night, so sorry about not following up on this. However, I think all the other follow on replies showed why I asked the question and have helped you move forward. Dick

What are you measuring the "3%" with? Dick