ducted fan question

[jg1501]

hello everyone

Im new to this forum and hope yall can help me with a question. Im building a composite f-18. My problem is money as most have a problem with. Im looking for a electric ducted fan that could get a aircraft off the ground that is originally intended to be a .60 pusher . The wing span is 55 inches and the fuse is 56 inches nose to tail. Im hoping when im done the final weight is under 10-12 pounds. Is there an electric motor ducted fan that is around that would push this much weight, and when i say final weight i mean servos and all. This may be a big over estimate on weight but better safe then sorry

Thanks to anyone that can help
jim

[ParkJetsFlyer]

If Money is tight, your better going for an electric pusher on this. EDF and budget do not mix well :( If your looking for a single fan, it's probably going to be a 5" diameter, (OS-91 sized) which are quite rare now, and very expensive on there own. Then add on a couple hundred dollars for the motor, another couple hundred for a high voltage ESC and probably twice to three times that much for Lipo batteries. I'm not saying it can't be done, it can be, just not cheaply (Yet) The airframe is probably quite beefy too, and would require lightening for EDF power.

[jg1501]

well its not that money is really tight. i was just wondering if it was possible for an edf to push something of that size and if it would be more expensive then going with my original plan of a .91 os with a ducted fan. also like i said i might be guessing the weight more then what it actually maybe. plus is it possible to run 2 edf in it of maybe 3 or 4 inch dia. or is that just getting out of hand. i know nothing of electic planes. but i do race electric buggys so im not completely lost. my whole point of this project is to make it look as much like a f-18 as possible with out an engine sticking out of the tail messing with aero-dynamics and looks. i know what power i can get with a glow engine just dont know about electric in planes

[ParkJetsFlyer]

well its not that money is really tight. i was just wondering if it was possible for an edf to push something of that size and if it would be more expensive then going with my original plan of a .91 os with a ducted fan. also like i said i might be guessing the weight more then what it actually maybe. plus is it possible to run 2 edf in it of maybe 3 or 4 inch dia. or is that just getting out of hand. i know nothing of electic planes. but i do race electric buggys so im not completely lost. my whole point of this project is to make it look as much like a f-18 as possible with out an engine sticking out of the tail messing with aero-dynamics and looks. i know what power i can get with a glow engine just dont know about electric in planes
Yes you could run two 90mm WeMoTec Midifans if you have the room. You would need to build custom balsa formers, and make custom intake ducting (and exhaust ducting) but it is possible. But then again it is far more expensive than a ICDF system. You would need to produce about 700 to 1,000 Watts (or more) per motor to fly the jet. (About 150 Watts Per Pound)

There is a thread over on RC Groups that will give you some Idea of what your up against. It is a Twin Midifan conversion of a Jet Hanger Hobbies (JHH) F-4 Phantom.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325806

Another thread of a Yellow Aircraft F-4 conversion to Twin Midifans
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332845
They are converting This jet
http://www.yellowaircraft.com/jets/f-4/f4.htm

There is a "Club" on RCG for those people who produce a jet with over 1,000 Watts of power. There are several successful Midifan set-up's listed in the thread. This will give you a better Idea of the parts you will need, and you can shop the Internet to find the Costs of everything.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237180

You have a very ambitious project, please let us know what you decide :)

[Cyclops]

I am almost finished building a cheap ( $ 200 ) ducted fan for 7# of thrust on glow.
Same thing on electric is easily $ 400. Big electrics are BIG bucks, without LIPO. Hey, LIPO is LIPO suction of your $$.