1/4 Scale Spitfire MkIa Test Flight ( Electric Powered )

This is the first test flight of Ali Machinchy's 1/4 scale Spitfire MkIa. I was co-builder on this model. It was powered by a powerful electric motor and had a Merlin engine sound system. Despite three large speakers, the sound system could only be heard when close by and lower power. Most of the sound you hear during the flight is prop noise.

[@monty9463]

Fantastic. Beautiful. Lecky motor and prop sound a lot better than ICE. !!!! Never thought I'd say that.
I love glow and petrol and go way back to the 80s flying. This model is wonderful. Love the landing. Great stuff.

[@century_bombers]

It's an impressive model and flew well, but I'm ICE all the way. Electric is just soulless to me. I've had a few small electric models, but love the sound and smell and engineering of petrol and glow engines. However, due to the shape of the Spitfire nose, I can see why Ali wanted to go electric on this one.
However, it can't beat the sound of his F7 Tigercat, powered by two Moki 150cc radials!

[@robinsareolas]

Wow, very nice! Spectacular landing too! 😮

[@Iolis]

Oh man! I want one of those!!

[@davidmallender7878]

Speed that is .

[@davidmallender7878]

Would love to know what it's capable of. Because I looks fast

[@century_bombers]

I only saw it make three flights that day and then it was taken away by the customer, so not really sure what its performance was. Endurance was only about 7 minutes from memory, with something like a 250 AH speed controller.

[@TerryHolton-zr2yp]

It sounds more like a petrol engine than an electric motor to me.

[@century_bombers]

There is a light aircraft that can be heard passing overhead, just after the spitfire takes off, but the rest of the flight is prop noise.