Small airplane – looking for best motor/propeller combo – some benchmarks

29,501 Replies

Compared to situation few years ago – now you do not need to use 50g+ motor and 15g+ ESC  to get 1kg thrust. Mini quadcopter racing mania made small motors/ESC much better, cheaper and better in terms of thrust/weight. They are high-kV (usually) but for small planes this isn’t bad – you still need speed and not only static thrust.

So, my requirements for motor/esc combo:

  • Still have enough thrust for unlimited vertical (so at least 800g of thrust)
  • Have enough pitch speed for penetrating headwind and flying around (so at least 100km/h at WoT)
  • Efficient setup at low throttle – need ~40km range endurance (total trip, not one-side).

Easy to find benchmarks on web for first two requirements, but for last one – probably next to impossible, so i re-built my thrust measurement rig – made it very well balanced and smooth as possible. Now it’s easy to measure even 1g of thrust (but probably would break away at full throttle):

stendas

Triple current measurement, triple voltage control, RPM measurement and precise PWM output.

Four motors, all completely new:

  1. EMAX RS2205 2300kV (Red Bottom)
  2. Racerstar BR2205 2600kV
  3. RCX 2206 2400kV
  4. Cobra 2204 2300kV (killed one Cobra together with FVT 20A BLHELI_S on plane – probably defective ball bearing on motor)

ESC – Racerstar 20A BLHELI_S, Medium timing.

Few props:

  1. HQ 5×3 (“Classic” propeller for noobs =)
  2. HQ 5×4
  3. DAL 5040 (thin version – IIRC there is another, “wide” version)
  4. DAL 5045 (thin)
  5. DAL 5045 BN
  6. DAL 6045 cut to 5545 (DAL 6045_C in graphs)
  7. GF 5550 (my current baseline – was using them on minicopter with gimbal)
  8. DAL 6045
  9. GF 6040
  10. GF 6045 (stupid centering rings)
  11. HQ 6045
  12. HQ 6030 (my old favorite – was working so well two years ago… Well, things changed =)
  13. DAL 6045 BN
  14. Graupner 6565 speed (this one from radjet remains – just to check for pitch speed)

props

So, what was done:

  • For each motor – measured voltage/current/thrust/RPM (bold columns in excel), everything else is calculated
  • For my Wing Wing Z (~500g AUW) ~120g of thrust is required to maintain level flight, so i only measured thrust at 1A and 2A (EMAX RS2205 got more measurements, but they aren’t required) – generated thrust is enough
  • Pitch speed is calculated based on propeller pitch data and RPM, not measured. All propeller unloading at higher speed, measurement inaccuracy and so on is not taken into account.

So, “best combo” should:

  1. Provide best g/W value at approx 120g of thrust
  2. still fit into tail of WWZ (7″ at max, for practical usage should be limited to 6.5″), 2-bladed (nobody wants to break multi-blade prop on every landing)
  3. Be as light as possible
  4. provide good enough pitch speed (you do not need much static thrust on plane)

So, results in short:

eff_2a

Cobra is doing very well in this test…. But we do not need 2A to cruise?

thr_1a

So, yes. It’s is possible to cruise using only 1A with all that weight and stuff if you have right motor.

But what about pitch speed? Currently using EMAX RS2205 on plane, so this motor in details:

thr_vs_maxspd

Not possible to get everything (eff + pitch speed) in one piece but still, some propellers clearly are better than others.

Full sheet:

Motor test sheets, excel format

Some may ask “hey, difference is way too small, why bother”? Yes, if you are just flying around in park – sure, you just put random motor/prop combo and go fly.

Others will tell – hey, some already did 70km+ on this wing, just copy this combo? Well, no. This setup was made as light as possible, without FPV equipment, with very weak motor (and battery, too), not much fun, actually.

Based on this data – you can easily make ~20% difference between “good” and “very good” motor+prop combo. This is actually a lot – i can have ~25km range now without any extreme power saving. +20% would make this 30km+ already.

So, best combos:

  • Cobra 2204 2300kV + GF 5550 – best overall combo. Lighter than other setups (4g saved == +60mAh on battery, do not forget about CG), good pitch speed and good enough efficiency
  • Cobra 2204 2300kV + DAL 6045 – most efficient combo. Very light and even more efficient than GF5550
  • EMAX RS2205 2300kV + GF5550 – fastest and still efficient combo , but not so efficient/light as Cobra (currently using this one on WWZ, 150km/h on level flight is not hard task for this motor).

29,501 thoughts on “Small airplane – looking for best motor/propeller combo – some benchmarks”

  2. CaseyJ99

    Considering the diverse options for obtaining essential medications, it’s crucial to investigate avenues offering both value and authenticity. When looking to procure treatments, specifically cabergoline, one standout choice is nabba-us . This option stands out for its cost-effectiveness and trustworthiness.

  9. RJones91

    Xperience the utmost convenience in acquiring your essential medication through website , a premier destination. Purchase your treatment effortlessly via our website.

  24. MaryD_937

    Having been diagnosed with angina, patients seek cost-effective treatment options. Discover the most economical option for relief with breathejphotography , offering a remedy without breaking the bank.

  25. chickenroad-Wriva

    Comprehending how your details is managed during playing the famous Chicken Road game is vital for a honest gaming experience [url=https://chickenroad-app.com.ph/cookie-policy]chicken road game[/url] . At Chicken Road, we emphasize your privacy and strive to provide a smooth platform for all our users. Our cookie policy is designed to clarify how we utilize cookies and similar tracking technologies on our site to improve your engagement with the application.

    Whenever you access our website or enjoy the Chicken Road game, we might acquire tiny items called bits that are saved on your hardware. These files assist us recall your preferences, keep your session live, and improve the complete performance of the system. By employing these methods, Chicken Road secures that your entertainment time stays fluid, personalized, and efficient. We use both short-term files, which expire once you close your browser, and long-term trackers, which remain on your phone to remember your options for upcoming visits.

    The core purpose of these cookies is to analyze the way gamers play the Chicken Road game. This information aids our group spot technical issues, fine-tune game performance, and create new features that our fanbase appreciates. Be certain that we never utilize files to gather confidential identity details lacking your approval. We value the faith you place in us and are focused on shielding your information in alignment with local regulations.

    If you prefer to decline cookies saved on your unit, you are able to adjust your software settings to decline them or remove existing ones. However, do be aware that disabling files may affect specific features of the Chicken Road game, possibly curtailing your entry to tailored settings or causing various parts of the site to operate incorrectly. We recommend leaving cookies enabled to receive the most out of your usage. For some queries about our privacy policies, do review the entire document on our domain as we continue to make Chicken Road the top place for mobile gaming fun in the Philippines.

  28. Jordan_36

    For those looking for cost-effective solutions for their motion sickness or vertigo, consider checking cheap antivert . Alternatives abound for acquiring this treatment through web pharmacies.

  35. Good593

    Navigating the vast pharmaceutical space can be daunting, yet finding the amembcselma is simplified online. Whether you’re aiming to acquire this effective medication, myriad options are at your disposal.

  47. Casey_28

    Maximize your eye health benefits with deflazacort , the premier solution for managing inflammation. Acquire your supply via the web today and experience unparalleled relief.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *