Alternative Engines?

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gsjames
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by gsjames »

boiler wrote: Near the end of the show one of them came by to apologize and said he would try to resurrect the FX but didn't know if it could be done.
It turns out that by sheer dumb luck, I have an "in" with someone very high in the OS hierarchy. I just recently found out that FUTABA owns OS, thus it is Mr. Koichi Hirai, the chairman of Futaba, that ultimately calls the shots. At the recent WAMS swap meet, I voiced my displeasure to this individual at the discontinuation of the 25FX and was requested to write a letter elaborating on our concerns both for combat and for Q-25. That letter was sent directly to Mr Hirai.

It turns out that one of the major reasons for the discontinuation of the 25FX was money. OS and therefor Futaba wasn't making any money at the $84.99 retail price that Tower was selling it for.

Be advised that the re-introduction of the FX is being considered at the highest levels, so with that in mind, here is the question...

Would you be willing to pay $115 (retail) for the OS 25FX as this is the price needed for OS / Futaba to be able to make an acceptable profit, OR would you just go with the Magnum 28XLS at what will probably be a lower price?
Gary James
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Dane McGee
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by Dane McGee »

Hobby People has it listed for $79.99 here: http://www.hobbypeople.net/prdcls/eng2s01.asp



I would pay the extra $35 bucks and get the OS.
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
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o1moregil
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by o1moregil »

If the new magnum is turning a 9x4 19,200k @ 3000 ft. above sea level, like Terry says,I will take the magnum
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David Drowns
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by David Drowns »

Ummm We had the privilege to have The Test engine on hand to try today at Palomar...And YES I DID try it!!!... :D :D :D ...It's the real deal! ...What a screaming good engine! They have a winner with a stable, high performance engine. It ran very stable throughout the throttle settings with the Mouse can today. My Norvell with a Moose can was turning 18,500 with a 9x4 and like Terry said it was at 19,300 with the same prop. Later after the combat was over (test plane not in event) he put on a 9x5 prop. It was good and fast but I didn't see the tach for it. someone else mar be able to chime in on that number, it was taken. It felt like a real reliable engine. I have an old OS 25 FX but don't have the numbers for it. Since the price went up on it and this new engine appears to have hit the mark they were aiming for. I need to get me some of these. Definitely a quality engine.
David Drowns
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o1moregil
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by o1moregil »

David Drowns wrote:Ummm We had the privilege to have The Test engine on hand to try today at Palomar...And YES I DID try it!!!... :D :D :D ...It's the real deal! ...What a screaming good engine! They have a winner with a stable, high performance engine. It ran very stable throughout the throttle settings with the Mouse can today. My Norvell with a Moose can was turning 18,500 with a 9x4 and like Terry said it was at 19,300 with the same prop. Later after the combat was over (test plane not in event) he put on a 9x5 prop. It was good and fast but I didn't see the tach for it. someone else mar be able to chime in on that number, it was taken. It felt like a real reliable engine. I have an old OS 25 FX but don't have the numbers for it. Since the price went up on it and this new engine appears to have hit the mark they were aiming for. I need to get me some of these. Definitely a quality engine.
Mig Man, in what plane was it in? Did you guys fly it? Did it sound like it unloads in the air?
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David Drowns
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by David Drowns »

It was mounted in a red MiG Terry built from the plans. (Quite an honor) and really tore up the sky. After the event when he had the 9x5 on it looked like the fastest thin there all day. As far as unloading I noticed it didn't jump a whole lot on a pinch on the ground but it also didn't appear to be leaning out in the air either. It unloaded some but not much. This engine has been well broken in due to being a test engine and felt good and solid. He said we could fly it so Me, Butch (Area 52-Crash Test Dummy) and Todd (Blind Squirrel) weren't afraid to try or going to pass up the chance. Not sure who else was willing to step up. I hope there are some pics and / or video of it, both were being used at the field yesterday. Danny flew the event but George was busy getting coverage for him to edit. We'll keep our fingers crossed it's in the mix.
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montague
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by montague »

Can you bolt on a MAS 10x4 or APC 10x3 with a standard muffler and see how it tachs?

One of the things I really like about the OS FX is that it turns up on the pipe with the small props for the fast classes, but also has the torque to turn the bigger props for limited B and 2548, unlike the Webra .25 which is a real screamer but just can't handle the larger props at all.
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boiler
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by boiler »

If it has the torque as well, I would buy the Magnum in the future because they listened to us and gave feed back. The price helps as well. :D
Bob (Longhaul) Loescher
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ptsullivan
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by ptsullivan »

I've been a die hard 25FX guy for as long as I have flown combat so what impressed me with the new Mag was how much it looked just like the FX.
If you did not look at the side of the motor, you would swear it was an 25FX. I think that Mag has really decided to pick up where OS left off.

With the mousse can/MACS header and the MA 9-5 G3 it hit 16.4K rpm. It did not scream as loud as the 9-4 but it sounded very healthy and
did not lug down too badly. After it did lug down (due to continuous looping) it popped right back up to full speed, no delay.
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lightning
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by lightning »

gsjames wrote:It turns out that one of the major reasons for the discontinuation of the 25FX was money. OS and therefore Futaba wasn't making any money at the $84.99 retail price that Tower was selling it for.
Gary, Tower's price before discontinuation was $94.99!
gsjames wrote:Be advised that the re-introduction of the FX is being considered at the highest levels, so with that in mind, here is the question...

Would you be willing to pay $115 (retail) for the OS 25FX as this is the price needed for OS / Futaba to be able to make an acceptable profit, OR would you just go with the Magnum 28XLS at what will probably be a lower price?
If the Magnum has comparable performance for 2/3 the price, I will support the Magnum. After all they listened and did not simply dump us like OS did. I'll put my money behind a company that listens any day!
If the 25XLS performs the way the 15XLS does then it's no contest!
That being said I have 18 25FXs and they have all been good motors.
Why do they need $115 for it to be viable - they were selling for $95 before they got discontinued?
And $140 for the (heavier, lower power) 25AX is just an insult when the 46AX sells for $10 less.
Methinks someone is getting greedy!
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sgilkey
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by sgilkey »

I'm with the others who have commented, as much as I love the 25FX and think it is just about the most perfect model engine I have ever had the pleasure of owning, Magnum responded to our requests and OS was completely out of touch with our needs. I don't for a moment believe OS could not make money at $85 a pop for those engines, I don't wish automotive industry profit margins on anybody but I know what we can build for $85 and it's a whole lot more sophisticated and takes a whole lot more engineering and testing than a model engine. More like they could not make 50% profit margin, maybe, but not make ANY profit? PULEEZE. They can decide how much profit they want to make, that's capitalism for ya (while it lasts) but I can decide where I would prefer to spend my $ and if the Magnum is as good as the others in the XLS series (I've tried the 15, 46 and 52 and all are excellent and very powerful) then it sounds like it has a lot of potential. Add to that Magnum has typically been very good on warranty service.
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David Drowns
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by David Drowns »

Just saw this on our site. It shows how Magnum is hearing us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwORvsf3 ... r_embedded

It shows the engine also.
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The End
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by The End »

I was down in the freaking jungle helping others and myself find planes. I was looking up, regularly, thinking who is tearing up the sky with that Mig after the contest.

Now I learn that was the new Mag .25.... at the price and performance I think we have a winner. Now, let's get Magnums ear and host some contests sponsored by Magnum. Then do the old, win with our engine, get a prize thing...

Either way, I didn't know what was in the air, but it was moving out...as I was moving in the jungle.

TH
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lightning
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by lightning »

David Drowns wrote:Just saw this on our site. It shows how Magnum is hearing us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwORvsf3 ... r_embedded

It shows the engine also.
David, I'm with you - they have listened to us, both with the 15XLS carb inserts and now the new 25XLS.
If that new motor delivers, I expect they will get a great following from our (and the Pylon) community.
I await that new 25 with great interest!
OS may bring back the 25FX (at $115!)??? - too little - too late guys, is my prediction! I doubt I'll be buying any more.
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boiler
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Re: Alternative Engines?

Post by boiler »

That video was shot at the Toledo show where they sold out of the Magnum 15 xls and carb inserts to combat pilots half way through the show. There was a lot of drool on the plexiglass case the 25 xls was sitting in. They said the 25 engine should be availabe for sale by June.
Bob (Longhaul) Loescher
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