country flier

After the first post and looking at Sonex' website some quick calculations ensued. Since the motor is at 200 amps and 270 volts (54,000 watts or 54kW/72hp) it was interesting to see what LiPo combination might work ( I don't know specifically what Sonex have used). At any rate 270v over 3.7v/cel= 72 cells. Since the article suggested flight time of 25 to 45 minutes this equates to between 2.4 and 1.33 C for current draw. 16 5000MaH packs in parallel for a total of 16p could accomodate the current in a 72s16p pack. These could be split into 9s2p units for each of the eight boxes. Allowing 4 ounces for each 5000 MaH cell we end up with 72 ounces x 8 or 576 ounces/16=36 pounds plus box and insulation weight.  The basic Aerovee engine weighs 160 pounds and 20 gallons of fuel (U.S. measure) adds 126 pounds. So the 50 pound motor and 36 pound battery pack look quite good even if endurance is short. Perhaps a motor glider................ Harold

David, Who knows where innovation will come from? Sonex are innovative in the light sport aircraft category in the US. The firewall forward weight limit on the airframe is right at 200 pinds so this electric installation is light in comparison. Assuming one could stay within gross weight norms a hybrid might also make sense. Interesting too is the way in which model aviation set the course for this developent even to the the use of a Bob Boucher(Astro Flight)motor design. About the only maintenance aside from normal pre-flight checks and annual inspections would be the battery system as compared to a typical aircraft use engine. Since in the states the builder has the legal sanction to do all maintenance this is a potentially ground breaking concept. Harold

Talk about emergent technologies......my wife has often wondered why I didn't go the defence route with models. The short answer is beacause they cost tremendous amounts to develop and the return is quite defined. It is an interesting story though. Harold

The content of RCM&E seems always quite good. Adding the show and event segments is one way to illustrate what occurs. From my vantage point here in the States that is a way to get a look at how folks in the UK approach aeromodelling. Living in a rural area makes venues like RCM&E all the more valued for the variety of subject matter. The in magazine plans are one attraction surely. Needless to say I did activate a subscription and would welcome such items as air show/events in the coverage; pictures being worth a thousand words and all. Harold 

True Ian..... Crash test dummies are identified with center of gravity marks on their bodies as opposed to the garden variety type of dummy. On another note this photo may actually be a genuine piece of evidence of UFO activity.

First photo of Multiplex's new anti-gravitational full spectrum plasma radio system in action. Features include precise control of the model from a remote location using wireless and heuristic control technologies. As an aside, I rather thought that the force must be strong with our young Skywalker....  Harold in Nebraska

Neat, a tailless configuration with a certain look that appears more scale than model. Multiplex scores again. Now flying it would require me to stay clear of the barn, grain bins and kite eating trees. Harold

Very nice in the Tucano scheme,Sy. How much of Mk.1 was salvaged for Mk.2? Or was it pretty much an all new build? Harold

Looks as though you've got a good EZE fan there Nicholas. Black with white is dramatic and nice appearing. Regarding the 19th August, where I grew up in the state of Maine(US)we used to talk about the warm season, August 7&8, as a good time for flying. Harold

The awaited images now posted just add that much more to the inspiration level. The design exudes what I like to think of as elegant simplicity. Nigel has employed lots of innovation here. Harold

Now Nigel is getting innovative on us via Lotus! Seriously that was a keen insight. I well remember when Colin Chapman developed that idea; the motoring press of the day was quite impressed. It worked far better than the backbone chassis of the Lotus 30/40. Anyway, I'll be looking for a July issue to get the plan and article. Harold

I'll look for the July issue at my retailer here in the states. Yes, I should subscribe:) Nigel Hawes does good work and I'll be keen to see the EZE-fan especially since I've been working on an EDF derivation of the Whizza. Harold

Hopefully the Barnes&Noble I pick up RC&ME at here in the states will have the July issue. Yes, I should subscribe:) Nigel Hawes does good work and I'll be keen on seeing what the EZE-fan looks like especially since I've been working on an EDF derivation of the Whizza. Harold

Pick a plane choices: Beechcraft Bonanza Avro 504 Beaifighter

Keith, I did a quick Google search of "vickers vc-10" on their images page and found the following link. It's in French but piccies are worth a thousand words, in this case small size 3 views. It's a start. www.aviation-fr.info/guide/vc10.php Harold

I bought the March 07 RCME at a Barnes & Noble for the Vampire plan. The simplicity of design is a huge draw. I'm thinking that building one with a .25 equivalent electric system might be interesting. That simplicity is a common thread with the Venom Chris Golds did for RCME a couple years back along with the Nigel Hawes designs such as the Whizza. Mostly balsa too; about as good as it gets.

This is all good news as it shows that the 2.4 protocol will be the future. Certainly here in the states I'm not planning to buy any new 72mHz systems.

Having bought a DX-6 at the end of 05 I can say it works as advertised and for the reasons stated. The DX-7 is of course geared toward the larger models. The DX-7 tx can operate both the DX-6 and DX-7 rx. So there is tremendous interoperability there.Soon I'll be adding a DX-7 for the larger models. The 72Mhz systems we use here in the US will,I think, be largely displaced by the 2.4Ghz system. At present the only reason I'd use 72Mhz is that some radios simply have more features available than the current DX-7. Certainly what Spektrum have achieved will be mirrored by Futaba et al as the Nurembirg fair illustrates. Harold