Frank Skilbeck

They do, but it's not a good idea to leave them at 100% for an extended time, especially if they see big temperature fluctuations. I've had a few swell up that have been left fully charged, so no put them on a storage charge when I get back from flying and then top them up the day before, whem I know the weather is going to be conducive for flying.

If you are a BMFA member you can do their registration competency certificate online, https://rcc.bmfa.uk/rcc and add it to your BMFA membership. Note you can keep redoing it until you pass, it's no problem.

I've run petrol engines on standard 10% ethanol, seem to run ok on it, but the problem maybe degradation of elastomers, e.g carb diaphram, perishing, not done enough running to determine if this is a problem. You can buy synthetic petrol, no ethanol, but it's about 3x the cost.

Shout out for 3DRX, not used them before but they had some aeronaut props I wanted, ordered yesterday afternoon arrived in post at lunchtime today. 👍 Also bought some bits (glow switch and magneto cutout) from Mike at Model Radio Workshop on Monday afternoon, arrived Wednesday.👍

But not as addictive........🤪

This one maybe https://www.dbsportandscale.com/sopwith-pup-60-8530-p.asp

I have a 1/5 th scale T21 with scale spoilers, they are quite effective. These have a servo on each spoiler with a simple linkage, they are top mounted and hinged with solartex (wing is covered in solartex). If you can put them on separate rx channels as it makes setting them up easier. I have an ASK11 motor glider with similar spoilers and they do make landing on our tight strip much easier. One thing to note is that I much prefer to have the spoilers on a proportional control, in my case the "throttle" stick. Years ago I had top mounted spoilers on a Chris Foss Hi Phase, these had a pull cord to pull them open and fridge magnets to keep them shut, single servo in the fus and when wings were plugged in it was a simple case of hooking the spoiler cord loops to a ball link on the servo arm, it worked very well.

I was going to say what Martin said, but if you want to do cartwheel manoeuvres then having them spaced apart will help 😉

I've used a 4 cell sub C on mine, typically do 3-4 10-12 min flights per session and the battery (3300 mah) has plenty left. BTW I fit a physical switch in series with the optical unit, to ensure complete isolation.

If you don't want to faff with extra ignition batteries and CDI unit then the Zenoah Magneto units are a good option, e.g. Zenoah G260PU 26cc, not the most powerful but good reliable engines. I acquired an old Kalt 23cc (Rebadged Zenoah) in a Christian Eagle biplane, hadn't been run for years, I changed the carb diaphrams and it runs great, still as noisy as a DLE though. Just engines do them https://www.justengines.co.uk/shop/petrol-two-strokes/zenoah-petrol-two-strokes/zenoah-g260pu-26cc-aero-engine/?v=79cba1185463

Just building a 1/6th scale Aeronca C3, would be an ideal candidate for electrictrickery, but I'm sticking with plan A of the Vega 50T. Lots of electric models though too. Why can't the petrol engines be supplied with silencers, I refuse to call the standard item a silencer.

Yes, but the grid costs are more to do with connecting wind power to the grid, not charging electric vehicles. If anything as Vehicle to Grid is rolled out EVs will assist in balancing the grid, Octopus are currently trialling a scheme where they buy back electricity from your car and then recharge your car for free later, https://octopus.energy/power-pack/ But when we rolled out nuclear originally the power stations were all by the sea (for cooling water) and would have required distribution upgrades to connect them at the time. BTW regarding range, one of the car magazines tested the new X Power MG4 against a Seat Cupra petrol, the MG4 was 17% down on it's official range and the Cupra 20% below the official mpg.

The DJI Minis, less than 200grams are full range, but obviously if they went behind somewhere and blocked the signal that would be different. If they hadn't programmed in a return to home it may have just auto landed.

If the lights were still flashing the owner can't have been too far away otherwise the batteries would be flat.

Pete, have a look at the Li-ion Molicels being offered, some EDF guys are using them, not quite the same punch as Lipos but mah per mah they are lighter. We've put 2 x 2s ones to power the Rx and servos in my mates FW190 to replace 2off 2200 mah 2s lipos, note model has all HV servos.