CO2 motors

[deadlyvj]

hi,
i've noticed all of you (i think ;) ) use only electric motors.as for me i'm a beginner , but as far as i've read ... CO2 motors are better than electrical, i feel as they are light and its only the intitial investment that you have to think about, recharging is super quick , and one can build really light indoor planes!! there are new small motors with throttle control too.but as far as now , except a few hard core enthusiasts, i've not seen much of CO2 motors!!is there a reason that you all avoid CO2 motors?
VJ

[krisI.925]

I believe the reason you dont see them much is because you have to buy new CO2 cardriges and also the motors and accesories are hard to find.

[gjohnson]

Abot Lhatti flys at our indoor flys. He sometimes brings Co2 powered models (he did Saturday). His use button cells to power the receiver and a single actuator for the rudder. Most of his planes are profile planes. If he brings them in two weeks, I'll take some pictures and post them. He has speed control on his motors, but adjusts it prior to flight. To control speed in flight would probably require a servo -- which draws more current than an actuator (not sure if an actuator could control speed on a Co2 motor). I keep thinking about Co2 and would have a ready coach in our club if I do take the plunge. I haven't spec'd it out yet. Maybe you could do that? Take a small model, say the Punkin II, and spec out the hardware for a three channel with Co2 and then with electric power. I'd be interested to see what the difference ends up being. I suspect that most of us do electric because we are obsessed with having it all -- throttle, rudder, elevator -- and don't want to settle for rudder only. Abbot says that the Co2 tank he uses (about 12" long and 2" diameter) will last virtually forever.

BTW, John Worth wrote that Gasparin is working on a motor with an electronically controlled speed control in its cylinder head. If that hits the market, Co2 in RC microflight might really take off.

Regards, Gordon

[deadlyvj]

i'm planning on building a very light plane which flys at snail's pace . trying to run it inside the house . for that i i think CO2 motor is the way to go.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi All,
I have given CO2 a good hard look several times. It got to the point where I have purchased a couple of motors. I have seen some very successful single channel flying with the type of system you are describing , Gordon. Aside from the limited control, what I have seen and experienced is the high variability of CO2 power based on the environment and the messy job of handling the cotainers(mine started leaking almost immediately). This led me back to the electric package where so much development is taking place in industry. At least with the electric package, the power is reasonably consistent and the control over the motor speed is terrific. Given the availability of gear like the little RFFS-100 the model size can drop even more. Along with all that, perhaps someday an outfit like Aerovironment will drop some development "crumbs" in our direction.
Just my $.02 woth. Dave Robelen

[deadlyvj]

thanx gjohnson,
i'll look forward to the pictures of the planes:)