| Electric model airplanes are a great way to get into | | | | the primary consideration. The power output from |
| the model airplane sport or to leave the fuel and oily | | | | these batteries is not constant. They start off strong |
| mess of glow or gas engines behind. Electric is quiet, | | | | and slowly give out less power till finally the airplane |
| clean, and electric model airplanes can be flown in | | | | runs out of power, can no longer sustain flight and |
| more environments than glow fuel powered airplanes | | | | needs to come in for a landing. |
| as they make little or no noise. | | | | Li-Po batteries, on the other hand, are known for their |
| Electric model airplanes contain several components | | | | ability to have a very constant power output. They are |
| that set them apart from their glow cousins. The | | | | just as strong at the end of a flight as they were at |
| electric motor, an electronic speed controller (ESC), | | | | the beginning. Powering your RC model airplane with a |
| high powered batteries and possibly a gearbox make | | | | Li-Po battery is the only way to go when using a |
| up the power train i.e. all the components of the drive | | | | brushless motor, but, and a big but - they can be |
| system of your electric model airplane. Understanding | | | | dangerous if not managed properly. Incorrectly |
| how these parts work together can ease the transition | | | | charging or discharging a Li-Po battery has been |
| from a fuel-based engine to an electric motor. | | | | known to cause toxic smoke, fire, and in some cases |
| First, motors for electric model airplanes come in two | | | | explosions. |
| forms, either 'brushed' or 'brushless' and there are | | | | The batteries for a ready to fly model will be supplied |
| subcategories of these as well. Without going into | | | | connected in series and/or parallel according to the |
| detail, brushless motors are constructed and operate | | | | power output requirement and usually held together in |
| more efficiently than brushed so deliver more power | | | | a plastic sleeve. Whether batteries are connected in |
| and/or more flight time, but the cost of a brushless | | | | series or parallel affects the performance of the |
| setup can be substantially higher. | | | | batteries and needs to be carefully considered. |
| Brushed motors, sometimes referred to as canned | | | | When you move on to building your own electric |
| motors, are very inexpensive but deliver less power | | | | model airplane you will be able to determine the |
| than brushless models. Most pre-packaged electric | | | | configuration that best suits your needs and the |
| model airplanes come with a brushed motor and leave | | | | available space in your electric model airplane. You will |
| it up to the consumer to make the upgrade to | | | | always want to have at least two battery packs |
| brushless if they wish to do so. With the popularity of | | | | available when you go flying as well as recharging |
| brushless powered electric model airplanes rising, more | | | | facilities in order to get maximum flying time. |
| brushless packages are available and will soon be the | | | | Careful management of your batteries will give you |
| standard electric model airplane power plant. | | | | maximum battery life and usefulness. Follow the |
| Second, an Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) | | | | manufacturer's advice on connection and charging |
| regulates the amount of power being fed to your | | | | times very carefully. There are differences between |
| electric model airplane motor. The ESC sits between | | | | the batteries used in your radio equipment which are |
| the battery and the motor and is wired to your throttle | | | | trickle charged with a small current over a long period |
| channel. When you increase the throttle via your radio | | | | and which will withstand being overcharged. Flight |
| transmitter, the ESC feeds more juice from the | | | | batteries, on the other hand, are designed for fast |
| battery to the motor, increasing its RPM and making | | | | charge and fast discharge but will be damaged and |
| your model fly faster. Most ESC will work with only | | | | are potentially dangerous if overcharged. |
| one kind of motor, brushed or brushless, but there are | | | | So ARF and ARTF electric model airplanes or park |
| some electric model airplanes available that will work | | | | flyers are a quick and easy entry to electric model |
| with either. | | | | airplanes with everything pre-installed and pre-set. But |
| Third, a gearbox. Electric motors are usually most | | | | when setting out to do your own installation of to |
| efficient at high rpm. However, you may need to lower | | | | design an electric model airplane be sure to seek the |
| the rpm to make the propeller more efficient or to fit a | | | | help of someone experienced with electric model |
| larger prop. A gearbox will then be included in the | | | | airplanes. |
| power train. So it will depend very much on the model | | | | With so many different choices and configurations |
| whether a gearbox is required or not. | | | | available it can be confusing. So make sure that you |
| Fourth, the flight batteries. There are too many types | | | | take advice from your instructor or club colleagues |
| of electric model airplane battery to list them all, but the | | | | before committing either your money or your time - |
| most common types are Nickel Cadmium (Nicad), | | | | and always get advice from a specialist on the |
| Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Polymer | | | | charging and use of the high powered lithium based |
| (Li-Po). The two nickel based batteries are primarily for | | | | batteries. And always, always follow the |
| use in brushed airplane configurations where cost is | | | | manufacturers advice. |