Cost of electrics

[Grow Pattern]

I'm with you Bill, but I like to try new stuff. I stay away from being sponsored so that I can say what I say. Electrics with awesome grunt are really cool to fly, but the question is do you buy yet?  The info. provided by those on the leading-edge often prevents us all being on the bleeding-edge.

Eric.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Glaze 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 1:56 PM
  Subject: Re: Cost of electrics


  Hi, Eric:
  I think that, all things considered, including that I am a junkie for new things, I'll wait awhile before trying electric.  Given that I have a lifetime supply of Y.S. engines that are all working perfectly well, and a good supply of paper towels for cleanup, (the airplane as well as me!) I'll let the other guys experience the new Regime.
  BTW: I'm not tryjng to start something here, just trying for information.  Did anybody else see the news story recently about a laptop computer's batteries catching fire on a flight?  I saw the story on a couple of different news channels, and I was wondering if anybody had more information about circumstances?
  As a former airline pilot, I can firmly assert that I absolutely hated a cabin fire.  Would rather have an engine on fire.  (Yes, I've had that one too.)
  Bill Glaze

  Grow Pattern wrote:

    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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