RC India

This poll/question is set to guage the usage of nitromethane for glow engines in India. It is hard to get in many cities, so the question is, do most people fly/bash without it ?

It would be good to post what brand and size of engine you use most also.  Note that this includes people who use cars with glow engines too !

There are a maximum of 3 votes per user, in case people are flying different sizes of engines with different amounts of nitro.

I use Morgan Fuels  "Coolpower Heli 30% Low Smoke" for heli 3D using 50 size OS/Align engines.

I also use 15% nitro for flying a OS52 engine on a Yak airplane.

thats nice ,
whats the cost of these branded fuels?? and also i dont think it easily availble in india!!
happy flying ,
sahevaan

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&P=SM&I=LXKYD6

That is $160 for 4 gallons (ie, about 15 litres), so a little less than $11 a litre.

We get it here in Qatar for around QR140 a gallon, which translates to around Rs400 a litre.  In Dubai (UAE) it is about 40% cheaper, which would put it around Rs250 a litre.

WOW!!
thats cheap , in Hyd we get fuel frm Mr.vinod @ 10% nitro for 600/- (575/- to be precise)

A Litre

Is Nitro really required for aircraft? I see people use 15% for Helis, but not for aircrafts.

Branded fuel like Tornado is availabe in Bangalore. Expensive, though.

Nitro increases the heat of the combustion, and thus has a significant impact on the tuning and performance of glow engines.  In addition to giving more power, I have seen that adding nitro helps some engines to start easily and run continously without getting cut off. 

It is not a hard requirement at all, unless thrust (and rpm) matters to you.

For cars, I see people using a good percent of nitro all the time.  No wonder those engines are "screaming" !

Many branded fuels have additives that allows keeping the engine clean.  They specifically recommend not to use any after-run oil, as the fuel itself has additives to that effect.

From what I read and speaking to some RC racers abroad, Nitro is not added for increasing power. They say its just to have a properly idling engine and ease of starting.

Some experts says it to cool the engine contrary to the popular belief that higher nitro increases engine temperatures. Not sure what to digest.

I personally use 15% and found it good for my cars. There is too much info on the internet and personal experience is best. If I plan to brew it myself someday, will test with different percentages.

I guess that is a good way to look at nitro.  Nitro increases the oxygen content, causing bigger combustion, yet it helps prevent the temperatures not go out of control (which would normally be expected as a result of the bigger combustion).

And yes, nitro does increase power, that is the reason why we are forced to use 30% for significant 3D on 50 size helis, because we are looking for around 2150rpm on the blades.  Without enough nitro, the engine is unable to deliver that kind of power.

The oil content has a more significant cooling effect, than the nitro content.

I guess I misled you a little by the phrase "heat of combustion"; what I meant is a bigger/faster combustion.

Nitromethane is used as a combustion enhancer,makes the methanol more combustible.
Benefits are
Allows engine to idle more reliably.
Makes starting easier this point is even more imp in colder areas.
Gives increased power

 Both methanol and nitromethane should be available easily ,just find out the names of the suppliers who supplies chemicals to your local college and even school chemistry laboratory(they (suppliers)are usualy the same)(Store keeper is the best person to ask).

I do not use any nitro in summer but  I use 5% in winter ( Engine TT GP42)

I use only 7% nitro for improved idle and transition. Fuel mix is : methanol 80%, Klotz 13% and nitro 7%.

My glow engines are all 4 stroke and from RCV. Sizes from 58 - 130.