Cost of electrics

[Grow Pattern]

Bill,
        I think that asking Jason about the cost of flying electric is like asking Schumacher the cost of racing a Ferrari!

A more realistic source of information would probably be to ask someone who is not sponsored.

My own experience and thinking is based upon what it takes to support a pattern plane with a YS engine on the front. Take the engine out and go electric.  

In the case of electric support you need most of the following; 

(You might not agree with all of the list or the quantities but it will give you a good idea of what is needed. Where gas and electric would need the same items I left them out.)

2 motors/gearboxes - If you only have one and it fails your are grounded.

2 speed controllers for brushless motors - they do fail once in a while.

3 or four pairs of Li-poly battery packs- 2 packs make up one flight-pack. You need to be able to fly four times a day. Fresh packs per flight seem to be the best bet. I have tried flying two schedules on the same pack and the second flight is not always a certainty.

2 Li-poly chargers - You need to be able to charge the two halves of one flight pack. There is never enough time to charge them one at a time. 

1 spare car-battery for the chargers - Unless there is a power supply at the field you will need to use some form of power source.

You could easily put down $4K to be kitted out the same as a glow-powered pattern pilot :-)

Regards,

Eric.


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