Hi all!

I was flattered when Webmaster Michael Ludden asked me to contribute a few words to his inaugural version of the club’s new web site.  The best way I can do this is to summarize a few thoughts (not enough to put you to sleep) about electric flight in general.  In the future I will toss out other ideas if there is a sufficient show of interest.  But I’m certainly not the only one who can sound off.  If you have comments to make or questions to ask send them to Michael at Webmaster.lewesrc.com and you too can be what the magazines call a contributing writer.

Because most of our members are glow or gasoline engine fans perhaps the most common questions I hear is how to determine the right size and type of electric equipment needed to convert a model to e- power.   The best way I can do this is to include some information below that I handed out during a short presentation at our club meeting on April 14, 2009 when I discussed conversions.  That information follows below.

CONVERSION FROM GLOW TO ELECTRIC

Most manufacturers and suppliers offer very helpful information on their web sites.  Here are just a few:

Hanger-9.com  - Click on Resources, then Electric Conversion Chart.  Start by selecting the type of flying you want to do.  Uses Hanger 9 planes and equipment in their chart.

Electrifly.com - Uses size of glow engine to select an Electrify motor, ESC and LiPo batteries.

Commonsenserc.com  - Tech pages contain charts based on the type of flying and weight of the plane.

If all of that stuff is too confusing to you then just call the supplier of your choice and ask them to recommend the components you’ll need.  Naturally they will suggest their own house brands, but that’s OK.

One of the great features of electric flight is the clean and simple ways one can determine some basic flying characteristics of a new plane.  There is a device available called a Watt Meter which when plugged in between the battery and ESC will register the Amps the system pulls along with Watt generated.  By dividing the Watts by the plane’s weight in pounds you can predict within the confines of your shop or garage just how aggressively that new model will behave in the air.  And all that with no odor, noise or mess.  Now that’s cool. 

These pre-calculations are based on some earth shaking research done by Prof. Shaw of Michigan State University and can best be summarized with this chart.

Watts/Pound                           Type of Aircraft

30                                                                Model that barely gets off the ground

40-50                                                    “Sunday flier”, sport sailplane, Old Timer

60-70                                                     Mildly acrobatic

80-100                                                Aggressive airplane

100 plus              Ducted fan, competition sailplane-powered 3-D model

Well guys I think that’s enough for now.  More later.  Maybe.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Happy Landings.

Dawson Gillaspy

Gillas6@aol.com