Electric or Gas

[alfredbmor]

What kind of bird do you think that will do the aerial video or photography easier?
Why?
Thanks.

[crewchief]

Basically the decision is pretty easy if you define what your mission is. For example I shot 3 houses today in subdivisions with my T-Rex 600. It would have been very difficult with a gasser, with the noise, cranking up, shutting down, etc. With the electric I can get in and out before anybody notices. However, shooting a 50-acre farm property out in the country, I would much prefer to use a gasser because it's heavier, more stable, less affected by wind, easier to see, gives you much more time to get the shot set up, etc.

Gassers/Pros:
a) can lift a lot of weight (10-15lbs)
b) can fly for a longer time (~30 minutes)
c) big and stable
d) are a pretty good bang for the buck

Cons:
a) noisy
b) requires mixing fuel/oil
c) a bit grimy sometimes (but nothing like nitro)
d) don't smoke too much, but still watch your lenses!
e) inherent 2-stroke vibration issues
f) more dangerous due to larger size and power
g) can run amok if throttle control is lost

Electrics/Pros:
a) great for quick deployment
b) great for noise sensitive areas
c) cleaner/won't dirty lenses
d) easy to get parts for popular makes (e.g. Align)
e) turbine smooth
f) can lift a reasonable amount of weight

Cons:
a) batteries are expensive and depreciate at about $5/hr
b) flight times are shorter
c) batteries take a long time to charge

[Wbird]

Great Summary Crew Chief.

[crewchief]

Merci..!

[SeaHawk]

I have photographed with a gas bird for 3 full years. Just short of 30,000 aerial photos (not all of them in frame:)
Crewchief's item a) is true compared to an electric, but I have never had anyone complain about noise. Item b) isn't a big deal, item c) gas birds are very clean and the only grime I experience is where you have a bad seal between where you bolt on to engine. Other than that...never have to clean it. Item d) they do smoke a little, mostly on startup, but never had any problems with anything in photos or on lens. e) I use an undersling mount and don't have any vibration issues. I shoot at the same settings as the guys with electrics. And have clear photos at very low shutter speeds Item f) true, as long as we are not talking about the maxi jokers which are about the same size. g) not an issue for me in 22 years of flying non-electrics (unless you count running out of fuel).

Just wanted to give you the perspective of someone uses a gasser. I would love to get an electric one day. They obviously are a great platform, but just wanted you to know that issues cited about gas birds are not an issue for me.

[MarkWebber]

They each have their place and I'm glad I've got both. Most of the time I use the electric. That's mostly because I'm wanting to get the shot knocked out quickly. Electric is on and up before gas. Gas is still doing the job when the electric's back for a fresh pack.
I won't fault the gas for vibes as I was unable to fly my Trex600 at IRCHA this year because of a mysterious vibe.
Much of the decision is going to be determined by what you want the platform to do. And you're likely to find that what you think you want it to do changes as you become more involved in AP.

[MLaBoyteaux]

I had a Vario and Condor gasser that I used for most of my aerial work.

I now have 2 Maxi Joker 2's and a stretched Logo 10.

I sold the Condor and I'm about to sell the Vario.

For my business model, there's no need for the gassers.

[alfredbmor]

It seems to me hat both can be used very well, I like where some of you said that the electric one is easier and faster to get in the air. Which electric bird could be the best choice?
and what do you all think about the battery duration?
Thanks.

[AirFoil Aviation Inc]

To me that's the big problem. Electric heli's are like computers. They are out dated a week after you buy them. Jr is bringing 2 new electric heli's two the market but I don't think thats the problem you can convert even the best heli you like to electric.

To me the problem is batteries. Don't get me wrong I probably have close to $15,000.00 in batteries in the last two years and they just keep getting better and cheaper. I really think the gasser now with cheap gas and a year from now see what the batteries have done. We have 3 new batteries we are testing in the Electric GSR right now that we were given so I would hate to buy one and find out next month you are out dated. We are getting great flight times but it's 30 degrees here now so we can cut our run times in half. The gasser is still the same.

I think they have their place just not yet.

John

[Tonystott]

This outdating business is a crock! If you buy a product which is fit for purpose, it only becomes outdated if it becomes no longer fit for purpose. The arrival of another product which is better has no effect whatsoever on whether your current product can do the job or not.

If your ego needs to be massaged by only using the latest and greatest, then you might feel like what you have is outdated.

Another solution for this ego problem is to use a product which is no longer being enhanced, so your old product stays "current". A gas-powered heli seems to fit in this category.

[AirFoil Aviation Inc]

I agree totally! What I was referring to was the batteries. It's not that I or anyone else has to have the latest it's the fact I have 12 sets of 5s8000mah Thunder power batteries. For the weight of the battery they really aren't worth using anymore. That $10,800.00 in batteries that they no longer warranty and these seem to have a high failure rate during charging. I just think batteries will keep changing to become safer and more reliable.

The new 6000 Thunder Power extreme packs work better and are lighter for less money. Right now we are flying a Honda 4 stoke GSR which is very quiet and can fly for 50 minutes on a tank of regular gas.
Personally I think this will be the wave of the future for AP. Simple pull start no carb tuning and a built in governor.

These are just my opinions.

John