Engine queries

[fuzzywolf]

I've been down to the local flying club today and was talking to one of the guys down there (who happened to be the Chairman), and I mentioned I would like to join. Anywho, we got onto the subject of planes, and he suggested getting a petrol or glow engine plane (and pointed out a Wot 4 that someone had brought) would be good for me, as electrics either need a steady stream of batteries or you have to wait till your battery has charged whereas a petrol/glow plane can keep going almost all day, just needing pit stops for fuel.

I've been looking at a few planes and wondering, what's the difference between 2 and 4 stroke, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

[kenninny]

I don,t know if the differents between 2 or 4 stroke fuel engines are that great, for I fly electrics I had a fuel plane but that was eyons ago. But as for electric I think thay have a bigger avanage over gas or fule. Fuel or glow planes can't be flown anywere because of the noise, my club lost its field for that very reason we have it back, but its just for electrics now, but we have another field for both fuel & electrics, sure you need a stream of batteriers to keep flying but while your in the air your other battery is charging & with the cost of fuel it get exspensive there are less parts to buy with electircs. Their are more advanage with electrics, but my favorite one is that you can be in the air shut the motor off & just glide then start it again, can't do that with fuel

[renard80]

I agree with everything said above.

The UK is pretty crowded. It is easy to attract complaints about noise. Unless you are flying well away from houses (or even farms with livestock), you risk incurring the wrath of the local noise abatement officer.

We had precisely that problem when some miserable so-and-so made a complaint about noise. The council allowed us to continue flying so long as we only flew quiet electrics.

Presumably it's OK to fly noisy models at that club, but you may wish to fly elsewhere from time to time. That's when you could run into noise problems.

Recharging batteries is no big problem. If you're like the rest of us, you will soon be buying more batteries. If you fly wisely, they will probably give you a good flying session - without the fiddle of refuelling.

[fuzzywolf]

Thanks guys. After I read the first comment it made me think, so i had a look round, and I think I'm gonna stay 'leccy for the moment, looking back on it I think the guy's opinions on electric may be a bit dated. Looking round on the internet I've seen loads of people reporting longer flight times on electrics, plus they're getting better and cheaper as well (whereas he made the opposite points, saying that batteries would cost more in the long run and you get lower flight times). I went to have a look at fueled engines, but they are hugely out of my price range.

I'm gonna attend the next meeting, and I'll ask people there what they think, get as many different views as I can before I buy anything else (well, except a DX6i and possibly a night vapor) so I can make an informed choice.

Also, I've been reading about the licence tests, and they say your plane needs to be at least 1kg, with that in mind could anyone give me a good idea of what plane to go for if I were to take this test? (let's say electric for now)

Thanks, Fuzzy

[kenninny]

This is just my opinion, but All though I love my cub I do like my e flite apprentice Its a high wing, flys well, four channel, and it a big plane (58in wing spand), and with its 15e motor it has plenty of power, but that just my opinion

[fuzzywolf]

Feb 20, 2012 4:27:04 GMT 1 kenninny said:

This is just my opinion, but All though I love my cub I do like my e flite apprentice Its a high wing, flys well, four channel, and it a big plane (58in wing spand), and with its 15e motor it has plenty of power, but that just my opinion

Just had a look, and I gotta say I like the look of that. I'll make a note of that, thanks kenninny!

[kenninny]

You are welcome, glad To be of some help