In case the old EMAC thread can't be recovered I'm starting a new one to pick up where the old one left off. If it can be re-posted, then we'll have some history for this new thread.
It seems electric power in 2020 is still as unpopular as ever in the IMAC world. And understandably so. There haven't been any breakthroughs in battery technology since LiPos replaced NiCads about twenty years ago. But small improvements in model airplane design along with ever larger and more powerful LiPo batteries provide a compelling case to fly electric, at least in the lower classes.
North Central finally had its first contest of the year (after cancellations due to COVID-19), so I had an opportunity to fly my electric 104" Extreme Flight Extra 300 EV2 in competition this past weekend. I was flying against the winner of last year's NC Regional Championship - in the Advanced class. So how did the plane do? Was it competitive?
The Extra had plenty of power, in spite of near 100% humidity, and just as importantly, it had enough duration to complete two Advanced sequences in one flight. The plane was very competitive against a 123" AJ Laser 230 powered by a DA 200. Scores have not been posted yet, but some details of the contest can be found here.
The plane has been able to complete two Advanced sequences in one flight at an air density altitude as high as 2900 feet, a direct cross wind up to 10 mph, and a direct headwind up to 12 mph. I haven't flown it in conditions any worse than that, but I suspect performance would suffer enough to make it non-competitive at that point. There is just enough power and duration to meet these conditions and no more.
The attached schematic has all the details on the plane.
It seems electric power in 2020 is still as unpopular as ever in the IMAC world. And understandably so. There haven't been any breakthroughs in battery technology since LiPos replaced NiCads about twenty years ago. But small improvements in model airplane design along with ever larger and more powerful LiPo batteries provide a compelling case to fly electric, at least in the lower classes.
North Central finally had its first contest of the year (after cancellations due to COVID-19), so I had an opportunity to fly my electric 104" Extreme Flight Extra 300 EV2 in competition this past weekend. I was flying against the winner of last year's NC Regional Championship - in the Advanced class. So how did the plane do? Was it competitive?
The Extra had plenty of power, in spite of near 100% humidity, and just as importantly, it had enough duration to complete two Advanced sequences in one flight. The plane was very competitive against a 123" AJ Laser 230 powered by a DA 200. Scores have not been posted yet, but some details of the contest can be found here.
The plane has been able to complete two Advanced sequences in one flight at an air density altitude as high as 2900 feet, a direct cross wind up to 10 mph, and a direct headwind up to 12 mph. I haven't flown it in conditions any worse than that, but I suspect performance would suffer enough to make it non-competitive at that point. There is just enough power and duration to meet these conditions and no more.
The attached schematic has all the details on the plane.
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