Uploaded June 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On the spreadsheet linked below is a complete listing of all the findings of this testing, as well as some powerplant combinations tested previously:
docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtSZzrsraF1-dDJzNGVEMnZnRzNzMkJab2dfRjlxMnc&usp=sharing
This is the workhorse of the Experimental Airlines fleet, used on more of my aircraft designs than any other motor. It is great for models in the range of 700-1200g AUW. It's moderate KV rating gives it a good blend of efficiency and power.
I have used this with props of 8-11" diameter and pitches from 3.8-6. It has a surprisingly good specific thrust (thrust per watt consumed) with certain propeller choices. For lower-speed planes the 11x4 Master Airscrew gets my vote as the favorite, with the maximum thrust of 1300g produced at a very respectable 5 grams per watt. This was my selection for the J*SCOTT STOL cargo dropping plane I built for FliteTest. I would use a 10x6 as an all-around prop choice.
This motor is $12 as of mid-2013 and is tested with the Turnigy Plush 40a ESC. Any reliable ESC of 25a rating or up is good. The Turnigy Plush 40a has a 3a switching BEC and so is good for models with 5-6 9g servos, with a reasonable reserve. My other choices would be the Turnigy Plush 30a or TY-P1 "HEXFET" ESCs.
Note the electric "specific thrust" for each power scenario as expressed as the grams of thrust per electrical watt. This is a good benchmark for comparing the efficiency of different motor and propeller combinations. 4 grams per watt is considered pretty good. Over 5 grams per watt is excellent. By comparison EDFs are often in the 1.5g/w range.
Turnigy D2836/8 1100KV motor
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18969__Turnigy_D2836_8_1100KV_Brushless_Outrunner_Motor.html
Turnigy PLUSH 40a ESC
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2165__TURNIGY_Plush_40amp_Speed_Controller.html
Turnigy PLUSH 30a ESC (not tested here but known to work well)
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2164__TURNIGY_Plush_30amp_Speed_Controller.html
Turnigy TY-P1 "HEXFET" 25-30a ESC
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__17135__Turnigy_TY_P1_25Amp_HEXFET_Brushless_Speed_Controller.html
MASTER AIRSCREW propellers
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/RC_PRODUCT_SEARCH.asp?strSearch=master+airscrew&x=0&y=0
Turnigy Nano-Tech 3S battery packs
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=378&LiPoConfig=3&sortlist=&CatSortOrder=desc
On the spreadsheet linked below is a complete listing of all the findings of this testing, as well as some powerplant combinations tested previously:
docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtSZzrsraF1-dDJzNGVEMnZnRzNzMkJab2dfRjlxMnc&usp=sharing
This is the workhorse of the Experimental Airlines fleet, used on more of my aircraft designs than any other motor. It is great for models in the range of 700-1200g AUW. It's moderate KV rating gives it a good blend of efficiency and power.
I have used this with props of 8-11" diameter and pitches from 3.8-6. It has a surprisingly good specific thrust (thrust per watt consumed) with certain propeller choices. For lower-speed planes the 11x4 Master Airscrew gets my vote as the favorite, with the maximum thrust of 1300g produced at a very respectable 5 grams per watt. This was my selection for the J*SCOTT STOL cargo dropping plane I built for FliteTest. I would use a 10x6 as an all-around prop choice.
This motor is $12 as of mid-2013 and is tested with the Turnigy Plush 40a ESC. Any reliable ESC of 25a rating or up is good. The Turnigy Plush 40a has a 3a switching BEC and so is good for models with 5-6 9g servos, with a reasonable reserve. My other choices would be the Turnigy Plush 30a or TY-P1 "HEXFET" ESCs.
Note the electric "specific thrust" for each power scenario as expressed as the grams of thrust per electrical watt. This is a good benchmark for comparing the efficiency of different motor and propeller combinations. 4 grams per watt is considered pretty good. Over 5 grams per watt is excellent. By comparison EDFs are often in the 1.5g/w range.
Turnigy D2836/8 1100KV motor
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18969__Turnigy_D2836_8_1100KV_Brushless_Outrunner_Motor.html
Turnigy PLUSH 40a ESC
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2165__TURNIGY_Plush_40amp_Speed_Controller.html
Turnigy PLUSH 30a ESC (not tested here but known to work well)
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2164__TURNIGY_Plush_30amp_Speed_Controller.html
Turnigy TY-P1 "HEXFET" 25-30a ESC
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__17135__Turnigy_TY_P1_25Amp_HEXFET_Brushless_Speed_Controller.html
MASTER AIRSCREW propellers
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/RC_PRODUCT_SEARCH.asp?strSearch=master+airscrew&x=0&y=0
Turnigy Nano-Tech 3S battery packs
hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=378&LiPoConfig=3&sortlist=&CatSortOrder=desc
