Glow, Gas or Electric?

Glow, Gas or Electric?

As we plan our 2012 issues, we want to know what types of reviews and features you’re the most interested in reading about. Are you a dyed-in-the-wool glow pilot? Or maybe you made the switch to electrics and swear you’ll never touch a fuel-powered aircraft again! Maybe you’re the guy at the field who swears by the reliability and low cost of good old gasoline. Whatever your power choice (maybe you fly all three, or only use gravity and wind or A-1 jet fuel!!), it’s time to take a stand and let us know your power system of choice. Share your comments here!

Updated: October 26, 2011 — 10:59 AM

16 Comments

  1. My fleet consists currently of Sailplanes, Electrics, and Glow. Gas is still in my future. To be honest, I’m a little tired of all the electric coverage, especially the micro-sized stuff. I’d like to see more glow and gas powered construction articles, whether from kits or plans. It’s time to promote building again!

  2. I personally started this hobby many years back with glow power aircraft and nothing but that. Then when the hobby moved toward much larger planes, I turned to gas engines for my main power source. However, in recent years, the advent of LiPo battery packs and powerful brushless motor really drew me toward the electric power side of the hobby. But I still find myself flying with all three-power sources. My main stay is electric because of the ease and convenience that electrics offer. Nevertheless, I still have many large planes that I enjoy flying and they are almost all powered by gas engines. But, I do have to admit that I still enjoy flying glow-powered planes because it reminds me of the early days of flying, the smell of burning glow fuel, the sound of hitting just the right setting on the fuel mixture and yes, the clean up after the flight.

  3. Electric is the future of the hobby. The noise from glow powered planes is driving the loss of flying sites as civilization encroaches on our once rural flying sites.

    Gas is great for the really large planes, but glow is a dinosaur … RIP.

  4. Glow, Gas and Electric are all important parts of the hobby and we need coverage of all of them – plus turbines too for those rich and brave enough to fly them!
    Gas is still the most reasonable solution for giant scale, although it is true that large batteries and e-motors are an option.
    .

  5. I would like to see a feature on glow fuel to diesel conversion, I have modified a couple old cox engines in the past with good improvements in power. Is it possible to do with new engines? Is anyone designing heads for this conversion? I fly glow and electric power, but think a mass produced diesel unit would be great. Glow has good power but cleaning up the oil afterwards is a chore, electric is a great “green” source of energy and I think gas engines sound the best but the whole hydrocorbon emissions is kinda dirty. Diesel burns clean sounds cool and has about the same operating costs of gas but with cleaner emissions. What do you think ? Sounds like an interesting article to me.

  6. I prefer the ease of the electrics; no fuels to mess with, no tuning required; just charge and fly!

  7. GAS or GLOW ONLY!!!!!!!! Battries are for flash lights.

  8. i perfer electric i only have 1 good eye itis just alittle easier for me love them all

  9. love all that fly what ever i can afford electria mostly

  10. “Glow, gas, wind or electric”? “Small aircraft or big aircraft”? “Fixed wing or rotary wing”? I’d rather say “AND” instead of “OR” in all cases, ’cause all aspects are equally important to our hobby!
    What makes Model Airplane News so great is that there’s always different topics, covering “everything” from beginners to pros. Please keep it that way, that’s what we want!
    Keep up the good work!

  11. We need it all glow , gas , electric , jet , rubber anything that makes them fly hand launch gliders are real fun dont tie yourself down to one thing the fun of this hobby is that you can do it all .

  12. More info on kits and plans definitely needed, too much coverage of ARF’s, the hobby is loosing something in the drive for instant gratification. As for gas, glow, electric – I personally hate small oily engines and love electric, but I must admit I miss the smell of glow fuel from my teen years. Good articles on building regardless of the power source, we can always choose to modify the model to suit our own choice of power plant.

  13. I started off flying glow about 20 years ago, but ended up leaving the hobby in frustration after crashing everything I built. Then 4 years ago I discovered how far electric RC technology had advanced and got right back into the hobby as a park flyer. At some point I may give the liquid fuel planes another try, but for now I am very happy flying electrics!

  14. I only started this infectious hobby two years ago, with electrics and 2.4G, so learned on lipos. Recently I’ve got into glows, and I can’t split them: some days the weather is made for glows (thermals, bumpy winds), while others are just awesome for electrics.
    At our club we’re seeing flyers bringing out some of each – we don’t plan it or even discuss it, just some times feel ‘right’ for glows, other times electric.
    Great time to come into the hobby – plenty of choice!

  15. Fly everything. By far I have the most glow. The simply truth is that glow is by far & wide the most versatile source of power. You’re not limited by glow power.

    The simple truth is that push come to shove you can fly ANYTHING off one single type of fuel. You can take the same 15% nitro / 18% oil glow fuel and fly anything from a 1/2A park flyer under a pound to a 20 pound giant scale monster and everything in between. From scale loafers to 175+mph pylon streamliners. From a glider to a ducted fan. Be it a 2-stroke to a honking 4-stroke.

  16. I have recently returned to the hobby after a 20yr hiatus.I always flew glow before but the advances in electrics is amaazing….I have 1/4 & 1/3 scale flying on electrics. I have a pair of park flyers and will probably stay electric this time for the convenience and no oily mess on my planes.I love all the new foams for ease of getting into the air. I prefer to build over the winter. Summer is for flying! Anyway I do still like them all but electric is just another way to enjoy this wonderful hobby…..

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