Cox Electric Control line Aeroplanes

I have had the opportunity to witness many electric competition planes. Besides being very quiet and clean, the runs are extremely consistent. Powerful motors as well.

I still like glow   

John Goddard wrote:If you can get one Craig you should.
The battery technology has come on so far in the last 3 years I'm astounded
that non of the boys with their 'planes on string' have dipped their toes in.
 

You are not often right John and you are wrong again



I took the Spitfire no further - it is still in pieces. The motor is cream crackered and I worked out a suitable motor, lipo battery together with a suitable timer.

However, a stumbling block was the model itself. It is quite heavy and the control surface too small. When set up, I doubt that this would "stunt".

The battery itself - because of the plastic body - would have to be mounted permanently. My experience with Lipo batteries is that they are not to be ignored and need care and attention. Run one below 3.3v per cell and it is "Goodnight  Vienna" or something more spectular.

I keep looking and will fly electric control line but I want a good model and smaller than the one in the video above.

I have now seen many examples - indoor slow flyers and remarkable stunt flyers.

I like this one



After seeing these, you will pobably understand why I have "shelved" the spitfire.

 

I was about to hang my head in shame (yet again) Ian
But I think we may be 1-1 on this one, I did type LiFe not Lipo
For the uninitiated LiFePo4 is the latest Lithium Iron battery which is much more stable than
Lipo, has a 3.3 volt nominal voltage per cell, none of the fire 'concerns' and no
low discharge worry's.
Most of the modern 'cheapy' chargers can charge them too.
So, Cox model, Life battery, no speed controller necessary.

BTW boys
'Foam safe' cyano.
Not the best product you'll ever buy, essential you use 'kicker' or activator unless you like watching your beard grow whilst it goes off, even with kicker it takes a fair bit of time to work.
Much better to test an unobtrusive area of the foam with your 'normal' cyano, most
foams are OK with it.

BTW BTW
A Cox that kicks out 75 Watts is a Teedee running optimum conditions, with high(ish) nitro most
'normal' cox's are a lot less.

BTW BTW BTW
For those thinking "maybe I could...." check out http://www.ecalc.ch/motorcalc.htm?ecalc&lang=en
Everything you'll ever need to work out how to set up your lekky model.

Finally
Don't get me wrong I love glow and all it's highs and lows
But
If you enjoy flying over everything else just try a lekky setup.
 

Some of the latest electric C/L Precision-Aerobatics technology is in accelerometers. These electronic devices sense info. on the models' attitude and probably even the motors' amp draw... and adjust rpm's accordingly for steady running through the pattern. It's like having a perfectly tuned and broken-in Fox .35 on your Nobler or RM.

Roddie

Dragging up this old post after searching on the internet for this plane, my brother had one when we were kids and I remember having to literally pull this plane around, the motor barely did anything.  It crashed into shards very quick too.  Cool idea though.

Cribbs74 wrote:I have had the opportunity to witness many electric competition planes. Besides being very quiet and clean, the runs are extremely consistent. Powerful motors as well.

I still like glow   

It's gotta smell right and sound right

Wow the Spitfire. I owned one in the 1970's. My father got it for me. You had to hold the plane on top of a large battery and that would fill up the on-board battery. It had real short lines and I got my first nose bleed from it when I got dizzy and did a faceplant in the church parking lot. I remember putting it into a fence trying to destroy it so I could get something better with a noisy .049 that I saw. I had wondered who made the little plane. Oh it did fly ok for what it was. No tricks that I could do.