GET THE BRUSHLESS ADVANTAGE

You've heard the claims: brushless motors offer more power and much higher efficiency than their brushed cousins-and they last longer, too. But do these advantages justify their price tags? In a word: yes! Although brushless motors have been available for RC use for more than a decade, these high-tech electric powerplants are now offered by more manufacturers than ever before, and in sizes that easily power park flyers to giant-scale planes. You're sure to find the exact motor to suit your needs at a price that won't break the bank. In this issue's "Brushless Motor Guide," West Coast associate editor John Reid takes a close look at 20 popular brushless motors and explains exactly how they can improve your model's flight performance. He also offers a list of helpful definitions and valuable thoughts on upgrading, and he evaluates the large brushless motors that are ideal for big birds.

Successful aerobatics-especially 3D!-require the right control-surface setup. If your servos, control horns and linkages aren't secure or don't provide the right amount of surface deflection, your plane's performance will suffer-or worse. This month, in our "Freestyle Aerobatics" series, flight champion Quique Somenzini shares the secrets to his winning setups. See page 92 to learn the foundations of aerobatic success.

If the thought of designing model planes with your computer seems a bit intimidating, you won't want to miss senior tech editor Gerry Yarrish's "Thinking Big" column. Gerry has used Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs for everything from creating new designs to drawing radio and powersystem setups, and he shares the basic tips and guidelines he has learned (see page 130). When you see the advantages of CAD, you may not want to go back to your paper and pencil.

Our featured construction article this month, an electric de Havilland Mosquito, is another winner from designer Mark Rittinger's hangar. With all balsa and ply construction, this 44-inchspan WW II fighter is powered by two Speed 400 motors and controlled by a 3-channel radio. Like all of Mark's designs, this one flies great and is guaranteed to impress everyone who sees it.

We're also pleased to offer the follow-up to engine expert Dave Gierke's "Glow Plugs Exposed" on page 110 of this issue. This month, Dave explains how to "read" a glow plug to get the best performance from your engine, shares solutions to common glow-plug problems and offers an interesting history of this small, yet essential, device.

Safe landings!

Debra Cleghorn

Copyright Air Age Publishing Sep 2004
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