Electric Control Line Models

[Roundel]

Electric power is revolutionizing radio control model planes and is making inroads into free flight. However, little has been heard of electric powered control line flight. This is changing.

The May 2005 issue of Flying Models has a pair of articles on the subject by Dick Sarpolus, one about his research into the subject and the other about building a 1/2A-size electric CL plane. None of the planes mentioned are of WWI subjects, but both articles contain useful information for anybody who is contemplating designing and building an electric CL model of any kind. There are encouraging signs that dedicated equipment will be forthcoming, such as electric timers.

The popularity of electric powered RC park flyers, yard flyers, etc., shows that a lot of people want a clean and quiet way of flying models. But the popularity of those craft creates the problem of them interferring with each other, especially in urban and suburban areas. Electric CL doesn't have that problem and eliminates the significant costs of RC transmitters, receivers, and servos. It might have a bright future if suitable hardware hits the market.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

Originally Posted by Roundel

Electric power is revolutionizing radio control model planes and is making inroads into free flight. However, little has been heard of electric powered control line flight. This is changing.

The May 2005 issue of Flying Models has a pair of articles on the subject by Dick Sarpolus, one about his research into the subject and the other about building a 1/2A-size electric CL plane. None of the planes mentioned are of WWI subjects, but both articles contain useful information for anybody who is contemplating designing and building an electric CL model of any kind. There are encouraging signs that dedicated equipment will be forthcoming, such as electric timers.

The popularity of electric powered RC park flyers, yard flyers, etc., shows that a lot of people want a clean and quiet way of flying models. But the popularity of those craft creates the problem of them interferring with each other, especially in urban and suburban areas. Electric CL doesn't have that problem and eliminates the significant costs of RC transmitters, receivers, and servos. It might have a bright future if suitable hardware hits the market.

Now this I would be really interested in. As kid I built and not very successfuly flew a control line plane.

I was hoping one day someone would tie electric and control line together.

I will have to see if this issue is in the newsagents yet.

[David_Layton]

Another reason why I am drawn to electric is that it should be more realistic than gas engines.

In Dayton, I watched the beautiful Aviatik CI in the sky. It flew but the owner said he could never go above half throttle or it became uncontrollable. These original designs were built for large course pitch propellors. So long as the gas engines are designed to spin little props at 30,000 RPM, they will not be ideal for WWI.

A slower RPM engine spinning a large prop is what is called for. The electrics come closer to this and the Aerodrome 1/10ish Albatros DII kit I have specifies a prop that is 1 inch less than scale.

I talked with the designer who told me that the above reasons were part of his desire to go electric. Looking forward to this one!