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

11,584 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).

11,584 thoughts on “Small airplane – looking for best motor/propeller combo – some benchmarks”

  1. Pure_Spot

    Find relief from high cholesterol with our herbal treatments. Secure your health back with just one click: [url=https://marksgroupbd.com/ozempic-0-5mg/]ozempic for sale[/url] .

  4. PSmith1

    Your quest for authentic arrhythmia treatment ends today. Find our vast selection of heart medications, including [url=https://browsethebrookfields.com/estriol/]homepage[/url] , up for grabs through our website.

  6. BettyS89

    Searching for effective solutions to reduce irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms? Discover how [url=https://primerafootandankle.com/item/bentyl/]link[/url] can help in relieving your discomfort immediately.

  12. Heal851

    Understand your options for treating vertigo; explore see more as a powerful solution. Buy it now for alleviation from continual dizziness.

  15. EmilyT92

    Zap your anxiety away! Now you can acquire your stress-relieving medication hassle-free. Don’t miss out on our exclusive bulgariannature . Save on your purchase today and welcome calm without breaking the bank.

  18. anthony.martinez93

    For individuals seeking to purchase hydroxychloroquine without a prescription, numerous online sources offer it. However, it’s crucial to approach these sources with caution to make sure safety and authenticity. hydroxychloroquine india prices offers a comprehensive guide on how to safely buy this medication, alongside vital information on its utilization.

  19. homegrownsZone

    When considering cholesterol management, selecting the right medication is crucial. homegrownscholars offers an effective solution. Explore alternatives online to discover how it can benefit your health regimen.

  29. Active540

    I understand the need for convenient solutions when looking to get medication. For those considering treating their health issues efficiently, checking out flomax presents a vital resource.

  31. DHarris87

    Considering the importance of anti-malarial treatment, individuals seeking an antimalarial medication can easily purchase their prescriptions through purchase chloroquine , offering a hassle-free way to tackle malaria.

  40. WellnessMax72

    Purchase your essential hypertension medication conveniently and affordably through explore . Whether you’re looking to purchase your medication virtually, our platform offers an extensive range to meet your healthcare needs efficiently.

  41. BDavis99

    Before choosing a treatment for glaucoma management, consider exploring cost-effective options such as tenvir em . With an array of possibilities, securing a budget-friendly alternative is crucial for ongoing care.

  42. MaryD90

    Just discovered you’re in need of a rapid solution for better endurance? With discover , find your answers and enjoy improved performance sooner than you think. Now you can acquire this remedy quickly to ensure your readiness.

Leave a Reply

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