Electra 225 (oz17021)

About this Plan

Electra 225. Radio control sport model. Wingspan 72 in, wing area 780 sq in, electric power with twin Astro-25 motors. Pusher layout.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Anyway, here is one more from the tail end of the latest bundle. Very interesting early twin electric by the well known Bob Boucher of Astro Flight, This is scanned from the original master Mylar. I found a picture on the internet [pic 005], it's from the January 1975 issue of American Aircraft Modeler.

Must have been a kit, or perhaps Bob made the fuselage available. It is obviously prefab from glass or plastic. Seems a rather significant plane in the history of electric flight though. Twin Astro 25's was a lot of firepower in an early electric plane. I am sure you could put this up in the air today at about 1/2 the wing loading and a 300% improvement in flight time and performance.

Found another photo here [pic 003] from an old Sig catalogue, and at $100 the most expensive kit they offered. This is back when a Sig Comet (their top of the line pattern plane) was under $50. The most expensive Sig scale kits were $75, the Yak and the Ryan STA. Sold my Ryan kit, still have the Yak though.

Oh, and the brushed motors were $110 each, and a single battery was $35, and you would want 4 or 6 of those, otherwise it is a very short day at the field. (Using 2 at a time, for a 6 minute flight..) So, add it up: a $100 kit, $360 worth of drivetrain (and what about a speed control?) Add a couple props, spinners, hardware, finishing and that's pushing $500 way back in 1975, or over $3000 in today's money. And you still need a radio. Yeesh.

Dave"

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