electric vs gas.

[Konrad]

Now that is the one real world issue with electrics. You are flying with effectively 2 years worth of "fuel" on board. With glow a crash costs you one flight worth of fuel if the tank is ruptured. So if you are still digging ditches or smoking holes in the ground, glow has its place in the larger sport models. But if you rarely crash, electric is by far the superior power source.

With the current cost of lipos all models* are accessible. I have a set of 3 cell 2100 mAh 12C batteries that still has its price tag. It looks like I paid $79 in 2002, and that was with 2002 dollars!

*I liked the old FAI limit as to model size. I don't hold to the current AMA limit of 55 lb as a model, this is just too large. Now some 55lb aircraft are beautiful pieces of aviation equipment.

All the best,
Konrad

[fhhuber]

Electric is getting close to the same cost for initial setup 9including one set of batteries but no charger) as the equivalent glow... up to appx .60 ci glow size aircraft. Below .25 size its often cheaper to set up electric now than to set it uop with glow equipment.

With glow fuel above $20 a gallon in many areas it doesn't take long for even 1.20 size models to come out cheaper with electric than with glow.

Just a few years ago the cost of setting up a plane electric powered above .60 size was prohibitive...

[XF-15DCC]

Some good info here as I have been debating if I should go gas or electric on a Seagull Yak 52 I have in the closet. Part of me wants to go gas just for the experience. The other part wants electric for the convenience.

Question: How do things wash out price wise. I haven't sat down to think about it but what is cheaper gas or electric. Yes some of the batteries for electric are expensive while the initial start up on going gas can be just as well.

I have nothing for a gasser, no starter no fuel pump nothing. What would be a cost for start up. Manual says I need a .91 2 stroke or a 1.20 4 stroke. What would be the electric equivalent? Then an ESC, batteries and such.

Hmmmm, off the top of my head electric looks a bit better way to go.

Any suggestions?

[wrongroad]

Oh God,
I wonder just how many of those Cox PT19's were made.
I had one but found much more fun to take the engine out, fuel it up, start it and throw it.:rolleyes:
We had no idea where it would go and I think, now, how stupid we really were!
More than once I had it turn and come straight at me. A bit like dodging Magpies during mating season:D
We would laugh ourselves stupid. The 'we' was my late brother and I. Good memories. Still makes me smile.

Did anyone have the Testors Cosmic Wind twin pack?
I found both the red and white fuselages in the garden shed at my parents place a couple of months ago and the engines still turn over. Nearly forty years of sitting with no after run or any TLC to speak of.
My first cl model was the Corsair put out by Cox [I think] when I was eight or nine. It came with a sheet of heavy black plastic to use as the runway. The plastic really worked:rolleyes::rolleyes:. Like an extra hole in your head. The pack also included a big battery and a can of fuel.
Can you imagine that sitting on the shelf of a hobby shop these days? No, neither can I!

Regards and respect
Daryl

[olwarbirds]

Now that Corsair is really something, but I can imagine the total price!!
One of the reasons I was able to get in to R/C without getting served divorce papers was the relative inexpense of the hobby if I went electric foamies. I didn't have to spend thousands of dollars in order to get one plane in the air, I had to spend thousands of dollars to get ten plane in the air! Cheaper...........guy logic!!

Grossman56

This is what has changed the whole financial face of RC Flight. My first balsa plane ran me over $1000.00 back in 70. You can get 3-4 nice foamies for that plus lipos...I love that big radial Corsair, but its for the very advanced flyer and get out the credit card ! .... DJ

[Grossman56]

Now that Corsair is really something, but I can imagine the total price!!
One of the reasons I was able to get in to R/C without getting served divorce papers was the relative inexpense of the hobby if I went electric foamies. I didn't have to spend thousands of dollars in order to get one plane in the air, I had to spend thousands of dollars to get ten plane in the air! Cheaper...........guy logic!!

Grossman56

[AussieHoppy]

Oh yeah baby, giant scale radial! As much as I admire the turbine guys, there is nothing more testosterone inducing than a big grunty radial :)

I too came from glow, started with the Cox powered control line as a teen in the 1970's, but I gave up on glow a long time ago.
I really enjoy gas though, not often these days, I still have my 40% Druine Turbulent and a couple of others, it is fun to get them running sweet, it's just another aspect of our enjoyable hobby. Flight duration is one aspect that I do enjoy more so with gassers, scale leckies tend to be so much shorter in flight time.
that said, 90% of my 30+ planes are now electric, and most of those are foamies.... and I luv'em all :)

[Aros]

I will tell you what...If I could afford a CARF F4U Corsair with a Moki 250CC radial...Oh mamma!

I would gladly make an exception. :D

[martmichals]

I really like the feel of glow or gas airplanes. While you can just throw an electric into the air, flying a gasser or glow plane requires attention and maintenance. They may not be the most convenient, but, in my opinion, they are the most rewarding. I love the smell and preparation, and I do agree that it isn't for everyone. Not everyone can find the time to get out and fly for that long. I can't hate on electrics, as nowadays 75% of my planes are electrics, and they fly great. It all comes down to personal preference. I would recommend buying a glow plane, since you have the chance to learn a bit more that what you already know about RC. As far as valid reasons go, there is only one I can think of. One battery in a glow plane will give you 5-7 flights safely, while electrics need a battery for every flight, and so you can fly quite a bit in one trip to the flying field. What little money you might save on batteries, will be spent on fuel though. I will always have 1 or 2 glow planes in my hangar.

Martin

[olwarbirds]

My early experience was with control line models (Cox PT 17). "Okay, squeeze the gas in ,oops, that was messy, okay, where's the throttle? Hook the spring starter on and wind up the prop, flip...flip....flip. Brraasa...braaaawwwww bb... bbb.. bbb.......... Okay, where's he throttle set at again? Wind up the prop. BBrrr...BBBRRRAAA............. Okay, to heck with the spring thing. Flip, Flip. Flip...Is my battery any good???Man, why can't they make these things electric??


AHHHH technology!!

Grossman56

:D like your sound effects and so true !

[Grossman56]

My early experience was with control line models (Cox PT 17). "Okay, squeeze the gas in ,oops, that was messy, okay, where's the throttle? Hook the spring starter on and wind up the prop, flip...flip....flip. Brraasa...braaaawwwww bb... bbb.. bbb.......... Okay, where's he throttle set at again? Wind up the prop. BBrrr...BBBRRRAAA............. Okay, to heck with the spring thing. Flip, Flip. Flip...Is my battery any good???Man, why can't they make these things electric??


AHHHH technology!!

Grossman56

[olwarbirds]

I used nitro then gas aka "Slimmers" for around 30 yrs before my first experience with electric. Which was with RC on and offroad car, trucks and buggies. I knew then sometime around the mid 80's that eventually electrics were going to be the way to go. Around 2002 I started messing around with my first electric plane, 9 yrs or so ago I sold off all my fossil fuel rc planes, vehicles and boats. I went all electric ever since and dont miss the fossil fuel at all. Sure wish I had all the monies Ive spent on papertowels and windex. If you do decide to get a fuel plane, I do suggest going with a gasser not nitro. Like fhhuber mentioned the advances in the smaller gassers is almost as impressive as the advances in electrics. Whatever you do, have fun with it and do what makes you happy... happy flyn... DJ

[fhhuber]

Prop choice can bring back the sound... at least half of the noise was from the tips of the props.

[boomer108]

I to used to fly gas 30 years back,but since getting back into flying a few years back I've gone electric. I don't miss the mess only the sound but other people in our club fly gas so I can hear there's and not have a mess of my own. Good flying everyone no matter what you fly!

Roy B.

[jobinseattle]

I have been in this hobby for a couple of years now and have only used electric. I never plan on using anything besides that. I have spent quite a bit on the electric setup and am not interested in gas or glow setups. I would rather spend that money on new planes. However I do love the sound the gas planes make. It sounds so authentic.

[PappaBear]

I'm with you on this one Wayne. Electric is clean reliable and quite. The technology is getting better all the time.

However I love the smell and the sound of a glow engine, two stroke or four stroke. You get a longer flight with gas or glow, and when the carburetor is set up correctly they are very reliable. I start all my gas and glow engines by hand, I don't own or use a starter. The one thing I will say about the oil and stuff all over the model. You do have to clean it, and this is an excellent opportunity to closely inspect the airframe for damage and wear. Things spotted cleaning can often be over looked in a clean electric model.

One tip though. Just because its clean don't get complacent and over look the things you would see automatically if you had to clean the model. Control horns, hinges, pushrods, servo gears, servo output arms and screws. Check all the above on a regular basis.

Martin

[StormyDog1962]

Yes Electrics are convenient and clean however I still get a thrill starting my 50cc Desert Aircraft Engine and smelling the exhaust and I love the sound. For me it's as real as it gets considering real planes burn fossil fuel. Nitro is a bit messy but the sound of a Saito 120 4 stroke in my WWI SE5A is something that can't be replaced by an electronic sound generator. Are all the advances in electrics awesome YES are Electrics saving RC Flying Fields due to no noise issues YES but I will never give up the fossil fuel. I enjoy all 3 power options in both my planes and helicopters. Nothing better than fogging down the field with some 30% Nitro fuel Bugs Hate It!

[Alpha]

I'm new to the hobby myself and electric is the only thing I have flown. The club I'm in has both electric and gas. I know there are several of the guys that have made the switch from gas to electric because of the ease of electric with less mess and a lot easier to start. I know I have myself had the thought of wanting a gas just to say I have one. I do thing there are a lot of many options in the type of plane you want to fly. I feel like I'm stuck in the same situation as you are my friend. So good luck to you in what ever you choose.

As I have steadily transitioned to electric, I can echo your comment about there being less mess! It's so nice to pull a plane out of the trunk, battery in, fly, land, then put it back in the trunk. No need to wipe everything down or wash my hands to avoid smelling up the car.

[Aros]

That's funny because it can also apply in this hobby as well. :D

[weedsnager]

Love your avatar weedsnager...(and your user handle is hilarious!)

I've been only minutely intrigued by gas planes over the years simply because I've never had one before more than any other reason. However, if I had a dime for every minute that I saw gas guys trying to get their plane to start, or tinker with on the bench while I was enjoying my flying I could buy a new PNP. The smell, the mess, the wasted time on the bench instead of flying...All conspires to keep me where I belong...In electric flight.

And now with realistic sounds being added, it's leaving gas/nitro in the dust IMO.

I fish, therefore I snag weeds sometimes