Re: Electric for large Planes

Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not 
so great) words of knowledge:
> Contact Vision Hobbies in Phoenix. They fly a big stearman on the Storm
6374 
> motor with great success.  They may even have some videos of it on their

> website at www.visionhobbies.com
> 
> 
> "Glenn Jacobs" <jakeinhartsel@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:xP6dnaM9No7nDanVnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>I plan to start a 1/4 scale Stearman (Boeing Kadet) this Fall or Winter.
I
>> intend to model the plane flown by Johnny Vasey in the 1949 National
>> Acrobatic Champion****ps. I will use the Barron plans for the basic
plane.
>>
>> My question is the practicality of using electric power for this
airplane. 
>> To
>> make it even more complicated as I live at 9,750 feet (2972 meters)
which
>> requires significantly more power.
>>
>> Is there a conversion formula for Electric Versus Gas? How about
relative
>> expense? Certainly not having to clean up the plane after flights is a 
>> plus,
>> but a negative is the time to recharge batteries.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> JakeInHartsel 
> 
> 

I would investigate the A123 batteries.  They are heavier than lipos, 
but they can be "quick" charged (if I remember correctly) in about 15 
minutes.

It is practical and feasable to do the plane as an electric.  The only 
"problem" I can see is the battery expense.  I suggest checking out the 
lipos (and also the motors and ESC) at Hobby City

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_index.asp

Their prices are NOTICEABLY less than stateside.  In 3 years I have had 
no problems with their 4s lipos and their motors and ESC (Turnigy and 
HXT) are at least equal to what is available here.  I do not push my 
lipos and I charge them at 1C.  For the difference in battery cost you 
can get 2 battery sets for the price of 1 battery set here.