I’ve flown dozens of motors over the years, searching for a motor that closely matches the mission of New England pilots. We have lots of trees, short fields, and hilly terrain. Sometimes we have to climb a hill or cross a stream to access our launch area.
I was searching for a motor light enough to hike short distances, durable enough to take a fall, and powerful enough to rise above the treeline quickly. It also had to be reliable, and start in the freezing cold, too.
In 2016 I tested an Air Conception motor. The next season, I bought a couple titanium-framed Nitro 200 motors for the school. I tripled the number of per-session flights my students were getting that year– the motor was light enough that even students with pre-existing back pain were able to launch and land all afternoon. The reliable electric starter opened up the sport to pilots with shoulder injuries (and the Lithium Polymer powered electric starter works below freezing). What’s more, the power in the machines was moderate enough for the 130-lb students, but sufficient for the 230-pounders as well. We had a couple of fall-downs over the years, but never anything broken. Everything my students and I threw at the Nitro 200s, the motors handled with aplomb!
There are other fine motors in the lightweight-power category; In fact, the whole industry is converging on this paradigm. Accounting for budget, pilot weight, motor availability and taste, everyone has their reasons for choosing a particular motor, and they’re not wrong. There are many factors that go into choosing a motor.
After trying out 30 different motors, I chose Air Conception. In order to be economically viable as a school, and to provide undivided support for what I sell, I decided to focus on one motor that would best serve my New England customers. There isn’t just one feature that elevated this motor above the others; It has the right mix: the right weight, the right power, the right amount of complexity, and even the right compromises.
Sure, there have been things I would have changed on the motor, but you know what? Every year the new motors come to me with some changes implemented. Air Conception listening, and they are continuously improving their machines.
In conclusion, Air Conception’s mission is aligned with the needs of our New England pilots, and the manufacturer is building the lightweight, powerful, reliable motor of our dreams!
