IT SEEMS THAT electric-powered modelairplane
flight has been “the coming thing”
for the last couple of decades. I can tell you
that it is no longer the coming thing; it’s here
right now!
The pioneers of electric-powered flight
had a vision of a clean, quiet, safe, and
powerful source of propulsion for model
airplanes. The clean and quiet aspects were a
given from the start. The “safe” part has had
its ups and downs—as in any learning
process—but is on the road to being fully
achieved in the near future. The power
aspect—to me, at least—has been the most
interesting part.
Let’s be honest. The earliest electric
power packages were anemic. I can
remember watching electric-powered
sailplane-type models struggle mightily to
achieve even a modest rate of climb. They
were not very impressive. Being an
aficionado of high performance in all types of
motor sports, my outlook on power has
always been that the only correct amount is
“way too much.” (Want to go for a ride on
my 160-horsepower Suzuki Hayabusa?)
Of course there are applications in which
ultimate horsepower is not the deciding factor
in choosing a propulsion source. Indoor and
park flying require the quiet and clean aspects
as much or more than brute-force power.
Electric power can now be contoured to
provide almost any type of output to achieve
specific results for indoor or outdoor needs.
We are fully cognizant here of the
advances in electric power in the past few
years, and we also realize that monumental
strides are being made in this field on an
almost hourly basis. There are a few technical
problems to overcome still, especially in
battery technology and safety. It is important
to remember that technology does not have a
reverse gear; it will always get better.
Sometimes it progresses slowly and
sometimes it does so quickly, as is currently
the case with electric modeling development.
MA Technical Editor Bob Aberle is
particularly aware of the advantages of
electric modeling and is always reminding
me of the potential that it has to increase our
enjoyment of the hobby/sport. He has
impressed on me the need for us to become
even more proactive in presenting the best
that electric modeling has to offer.
In August 2002 we produced an electricmodeling
theme issue. The membership/
reader response was overwhelming in a
positive manner, and we’ve decided to
produce another such issue.
What formed the nucleus of this
collection of articles was avid electric
modeler Joe Beshar’s (former AMA District
II vice president and present AMA flyingsite
coordinator for the eastern region)
suggestion that we prepare an article that
would make it easier for the average
modeler who wants to try electric modeling
to choose the proper motor-and-battery
combination for a given size of model.
Bob Aberle was presented with this
challenge, and in his normal overachieving
fashion, he went far beyond Joe’s original
thought to produce a document that should
answer myriad technical electric-modeling
questions. I know it has done that for me.
Bob’s article is so detailed and farreaching
in scope that we have had to break
it into two parts, the first of which is
included as the centerpiece of this issue.
The second part will be published next
month.
For you park-flier types who also like to
build, we present a construction feature
about a great little RC biplane design by MA
“Micro-Flying” author Dave Robelen. His
Big Punkin reminds me of the fabulous FF
sport models of the 1960s that were
designed by the legendary Keith Laumer.
I am particularly pleased to be able to
present a construction feature article about
Mike Palko’s landmark electric-powered
CL Precision Aerobatics (Stunt) model: the
Silencer. This is only Mike’s second electric
CL model, but with it he placed a credible
sixth place in the Advanced Stunt event at
last year’s Nats.
To my knowledge, this is the first
electric-powered CL Stunt model flown in
competition at a Nats. I cannot express in
competition at a Nats. I cannot express in
words how proud I am of Mike for his
accomplishment. As a brief aside, it is
important to note that Jason Shulman flew
an electric-powered model to win the FAI
RC Aerobatics event at the 2004 Nats!
I can remember the days when CL was
flown in fields and parks in urban areas.
Modern attitudes toward noise pollution put
an effective stop to that practice in most
localities. Electric CL and electric RC park
flying are viable ways to allow us to safely
and courteously demonstrate modeling to
the masses at these local parks and fields
once more.
There are an ever-increasing number of
dedicated electric-modeling events. Perhaps
the largest such fun-fly in the world is the
Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology
(NEAT) Fair, which has grown steadily in
the past few years to be the major showcase
for all types of electric-modeling ideas,
products, and designs.
This year Mother Nature threw a spitball
curve at the NEAT gathering with a deluge
from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. Not
only was the event washed out after only a
day and a half, but there were serious issues
of property loss and personal danger.
The organizers and many of the
participants pitched in to help those in need.
They saved numerous cars and trailers from
being swamped, but many others were not
so fortunate. This is a story not only about
modeling, but about the nature of modelers
as caring human beings.
Even though the event was severely
abbreviated, we reasoned that this story
needed to be told. Thanks to past AMA
Executive Director John Worth for
chronicling it for us.
An electric event that did not have to
worry about foul weather was the JR Indoor
Electric Festival. This gathering was held in
early November 2004 at the Four Seasons
Golf Dome in Columbus, Ohio.
On hand to capture the action for us was
my “cousin” (not really) Tom Hunt. This is
an event that we predict will also grow to
become a major electric happening for years
to come. There were several new
innovations at this year’s festival,
reinforcing my earlier claim that electric
technology is advancing rapidly. I won’t
steal Tom’s thunder by discussing them
here.
Rounding out the all-electric issue is a
technical review of West Mountain Radio’s
Computer Battery Analyzer—a battery loadtesting
device that, in Bob Aberle’s words,
“can apply realistic load currents to simulate
more closely what electric motors consume
in flight.” Again, technology is expanding in
all directions to make electric modeling
more viable, safer, easier, and more fun than
ever before.
Have you tried electric modeling yet?
Now may be the time to get on board for what
is quickly becoming one of the major aspects
of our great hobby/sport. It’s shaping up to be
an exciting albeit quiet ride.
I can be reached on the electric telephone at
(610) 614-1747, via the electric computer
device at [email protected], or you can
send your thoughts and comments via the oldtechnology
mail route at Box 68, Stockertown
PA 18083. I’ll read your letters by the glow of
electric light, however ... MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/03
Page Numbers: 7,145
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/03
Page Numbers: 7,145
IT SEEMS THAT electric-powered modelairplane
flight has been “the coming thing”
for the last couple of decades. I can tell you
that it is no longer the coming thing; it’s here
right now!
The pioneers of electric-powered flight
had a vision of a clean, quiet, safe, and
powerful source of propulsion for model
airplanes. The clean and quiet aspects were a
given from the start. The “safe” part has had
its ups and downs—as in any learning
process—but is on the road to being fully
achieved in the near future. The power
aspect—to me, at least—has been the most
interesting part.
Let’s be honest. The earliest electric
power packages were anemic. I can
remember watching electric-powered
sailplane-type models struggle mightily to
achieve even a modest rate of climb. They
were not very impressive. Being an
aficionado of high performance in all types of
motor sports, my outlook on power has
always been that the only correct amount is
“way too much.” (Want to go for a ride on
my 160-horsepower Suzuki Hayabusa?)
Of course there are applications in which
ultimate horsepower is not the deciding factor
in choosing a propulsion source. Indoor and
park flying require the quiet and clean aspects
as much or more than brute-force power.
Electric power can now be contoured to
provide almost any type of output to achieve
specific results for indoor or outdoor needs.
We are fully cognizant here of the
advances in electric power in the past few
years, and we also realize that monumental
strides are being made in this field on an
almost hourly basis. There are a few technical
problems to overcome still, especially in
battery technology and safety. It is important
to remember that technology does not have a
reverse gear; it will always get better.
Sometimes it progresses slowly and
sometimes it does so quickly, as is currently
the case with electric modeling development.
MA Technical Editor Bob Aberle is
particularly aware of the advantages of
electric modeling and is always reminding
me of the potential that it has to increase our
enjoyment of the hobby/sport. He has
impressed on me the need for us to become
even more proactive in presenting the best
that electric modeling has to offer.
In August 2002 we produced an electricmodeling
theme issue. The membership/
reader response was overwhelming in a
positive manner, and we’ve decided to
produce another such issue.
What formed the nucleus of this
collection of articles was avid electric
modeler Joe Beshar’s (former AMA District
II vice president and present AMA flyingsite
coordinator for the eastern region)
suggestion that we prepare an article that
would make it easier for the average
modeler who wants to try electric modeling
to choose the proper motor-and-battery
combination for a given size of model.
Bob Aberle was presented with this
challenge, and in his normal overachieving
fashion, he went far beyond Joe’s original
thought to produce a document that should
answer myriad technical electric-modeling
questions. I know it has done that for me.
Bob’s article is so detailed and farreaching
in scope that we have had to break
it into two parts, the first of which is
included as the centerpiece of this issue.
The second part will be published next
month.
For you park-flier types who also like to
build, we present a construction feature
about a great little RC biplane design by MA
“Micro-Flying” author Dave Robelen. His
Big Punkin reminds me of the fabulous FF
sport models of the 1960s that were
designed by the legendary Keith Laumer.
I am particularly pleased to be able to
present a construction feature article about
Mike Palko’s landmark electric-powered
CL Precision Aerobatics (Stunt) model: the
Silencer. This is only Mike’s second electric
CL model, but with it he placed a credible
sixth place in the Advanced Stunt event at
last year’s Nats.
To my knowledge, this is the first
electric-powered CL Stunt model flown in
competition at a Nats. I cannot express in
competition at a Nats. I cannot express in
words how proud I am of Mike for his
accomplishment. As a brief aside, it is
important to note that Jason Shulman flew
an electric-powered model to win the FAI
RC Aerobatics event at the 2004 Nats!
I can remember the days when CL was
flown in fields and parks in urban areas.
Modern attitudes toward noise pollution put
an effective stop to that practice in most
localities. Electric CL and electric RC park
flying are viable ways to allow us to safely
and courteously demonstrate modeling to
the masses at these local parks and fields
once more.
There are an ever-increasing number of
dedicated electric-modeling events. Perhaps
the largest such fun-fly in the world is the
Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology
(NEAT) Fair, which has grown steadily in
the past few years to be the major showcase
for all types of electric-modeling ideas,
products, and designs.
This year Mother Nature threw a spitball
curve at the NEAT gathering with a deluge
from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. Not
only was the event washed out after only a
day and a half, but there were serious issues
of property loss and personal danger.
The organizers and many of the
participants pitched in to help those in need.
They saved numerous cars and trailers from
being swamped, but many others were not
so fortunate. This is a story not only about
modeling, but about the nature of modelers
as caring human beings.
Even though the event was severely
abbreviated, we reasoned that this story
needed to be told. Thanks to past AMA
Executive Director John Worth for
chronicling it for us.
An electric event that did not have to
worry about foul weather was the JR Indoor
Electric Festival. This gathering was held in
early November 2004 at the Four Seasons
Golf Dome in Columbus, Ohio.
On hand to capture the action for us was
my “cousin” (not really) Tom Hunt. This is
an event that we predict will also grow to
become a major electric happening for years
to come. There were several new
innovations at this year’s festival,
reinforcing my earlier claim that electric
technology is advancing rapidly. I won’t
steal Tom’s thunder by discussing them
here.
Rounding out the all-electric issue is a
technical review of West Mountain Radio’s
Computer Battery Analyzer—a battery loadtesting
device that, in Bob Aberle’s words,
“can apply realistic load currents to simulate
more closely what electric motors consume
in flight.” Again, technology is expanding in
all directions to make electric modeling
more viable, safer, easier, and more fun than
ever before.
Have you tried electric modeling yet?
Now may be the time to get on board for what
is quickly becoming one of the major aspects
of our great hobby/sport. It’s shaping up to be
an exciting albeit quiet ride.
I can be reached on the electric telephone at
(610) 614-1747, via the electric computer
device at [email protected], or you can
send your thoughts and comments via the oldtechnology
mail route at Box 68, Stockertown
PA 18083. I’ll read your letters by the glow of
electric light, however ... MA