ALES is for Altitude-Limited Electric Soaring
To help you choose the right power setup for your preferred motor glider for ALES/F5J competition, we've put together this table with the best setups we've tested on different airframes. Since ALES competition does not require that ultimate power setup, but the lightest yet powerful enough system that will bring your glider to 200m in about 20 sec. this leaves a 10 sec safety window. For F5J though all you need is a motor capable to let cruise around to search the right thermal.
Max. model weight
suggested motor setup
max Watt
motor weight
motor dia.
> 600 g (21 oz)
Compact 380, 8" x 4.5", 20A esc, 3S 700mAh
150 W
30 g (1oz)
motor within 30mm dia. spinner
> 900 g (32 oz)
Compact 700, 11 x 8", 30A esc, 3S 100mAh
200 W
58 g (2oz)
motor within 39mm dia. spinner
> 1300 g (46 oz)
Mega ACn 16/15/5CE, 11" x 6", 40A esc, 3S 1300 mAh
300 W
88 g (3.1oz)
28 mm (1.1")
> 1500 g (53 oz)
Mega ACn 16/25/5, 12" x 6", 40A esc, 3S 1300 mAh
350 W
115 g (4oz)
> 1700 g (60 oz)
Mega ACn 22/20/3, 11 x 7, 50A esc, 3S 1700mAh
450 W
165 g (5.8oz)
36 mm (1.41")
> 1900 g (67 oz)
Powerline Micro 1025 PG6.7, 16 x 8, 50A esc, 3S 1300mAh
99 g (3.5oz)
> 2000 g (70 oz)
Mega ACn 16/30/3CE, 12 x 7, 75A esc, 3S 2200 mAh
600 W
135 g (4.7oz)
> 2500 g (88 oz)
Mega ACn 22/3S, 13 x 7, 75A esc, 3S 2200 mAh
189 g (6.7oz)
> 3500 g (124 oz)
Mega 16/25/1,5S PG 4,33:1, 14 x 10, 100A esc, 3S 2200 mAh
1 kW
152 g (5.4oz)
Mega 22/40/1kW, 15 x 8, 100A esc, 3S 2200mAh
1kW
272 g (9.5oz)
Mega ACn 22/35-4S, 15 x 8, 80A esc, 4S 2200mAh
900 W
245 g (8.6oz)
> 4000g (141 oz)
Mega ACn F5J PG 6.7:1, 17 x 13, 120A esc, 4S 2600 mAh
2 kW
182 g (6.4oz)