Sources and Resources Related to Model Airplane Electric Motors 
compiled by Dean Sigler in partial preparation
for a presentation for Sustaining Soaring, A Model Approach

Please note that the inclusion of any item in this list
is meant for information only,
and does not represent an endorsement of any product.

Propellers

http://www.apcprop.com/
APC makes wooden and carbon-fiber propellers, with off-the-shelf items up to 32 inches in diameter.  They also make folding propellers, but not in size ranges that would be of interest.

http://www.bolly.com.au/
An Australian firm that specializes in high-performance propellers for everything from models up through light aircraft.  Model units go up to 36 inches in diameter.

http://www.chiefaircraft.com/rcmsec/Models/Accessories/Props/BollyProps.html
Chief Aircraft is an American distributor for Bolly propellers, as well as many foreign-made units listed below.

 http://masterairscrew.com/propellers.aspx
Model propellers in wood and carbon fiber up to 24 inches in diameter.

 http://mejzlikmodellbau.inshop.cz/inshop/
Mejzlik carbon fiber propellers are made in the Czech Republic in sizes up to 26 inches.

 http://www.menz-prop.de/english.htm
Menz propellers are made in the Germany in sizes up to 34 inches.

 http://home.cogeco.ca/~mscprops/ava.html
MSC propellers up to 40 inches in diameter.

 http://www.zingerpropeller.com/pro-zinger.htm

American propellers up to 32 inches in diameter.

 Motors

http://www.actro.de/de/allg/index.html
Actro is a German company that makes a wide range of brushless motors.

www.astroflight.com/
Astro-Flight is an American company that makes brushless model and industrial motors.  Their motors were used on the Solar Challenger and are on the recently-announced Sonex electric airplane.  

http://www.modelmotors.cz/
AXI motors are high-performance Czech units.

 http://www.ductedfans.com/
Electric ducted fans.

 http://www.hackerbrushless.com/
Hacker is a German company that produces high-quality motors.

http://www.lehner-motoren.com/
Lehner motors are made in Germany, and come in a wide variety of configurations.

 http://www.neumotors.com/20061222/Home_Page.html
Neumotors is an American company making high-quality inrunner motors.

 http://www.plettenberg-motoren.com/
Plettenberg is a German company, and builds outrunners up to 15kW. 

http://www.shredair.com/fan.html
Schubeler ducted fans from Germany.  Expensive, but excellent.

 http://www.torcman.de/
The Torcman 685 is a large, high-torque outrunner with a robust propeller speed reduction unit. 

Electronic Speed Controllers

http://www.castlecreations.com/products/products_fly.html
Castle Creations/Phoenix ESCs.

http://www.hacker-motor.com/images/Master-manual-Engl.pdf
Hacker Speed Controls. 

http://www.jetimodel.cz/eng/navody_en/advance_eng.pdf
Jeti speed controllers from the Czech Republic.

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/jeti.htm
An American distributor. 

http://www.kontronikusa.com/brushlessesc/index.html
German-made Kontronik ESCs. 

http://www.teamnovak.com/index.html
Novak speed controllers from US.  Company also makes motors. 

http://www.rctoys.com/rc-products-catalog/RC-PARTS-SPEED-CONTROLLERS.html

 Batteries

http://www.powerstream.com/
Has nice tutorials on battery basics. 

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/
Excellent overview and easy-to-understand tutorials. 

http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com
“Cheap” is a relative term, but this company stocks many major brands, including A123, and will build custom packs to order. 

http://www.electricppg.com/Technical/ElectricPPG_PowerMarkDeseck.xls
A very tidy spreadsheet that allows sizing, pricing, and evaluation of potential battery packs.  Although it is intended for powered paraglider flyers, it is useful for sailplane applications.

 http://slkelectronics.com/battery/index.htm
Pictorial step-by-step instructions on building battery packs from a variety of sources, including A123 cells found in DeWalt packs. 

Resources 

http://www.airfieldmodels.com/information_source/model_aircraft_engines/propellers.htm
A great site with an overview of model aircraft propellers and good basic tutorials.

 http://endless-sphere.com/forums/
General forums on matters of interest for electric vehicle designers, builders. 

http://www.ezonemag.com/
A bit more commercially-directed, but useful for finding products and background information. 

http://www.flyinggiants.com/
For giant-scale RC models, with a great many items in a size range of interest.

 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/
Useful general information on RC models, with threads running in all directions.

http://www.rcgroups.com/aircraft-electric-airplanes-4/
With this useful subgroup dedicated to electric airplanes. 

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375994
Pink Floyd and Big Floyd models – 24- and 50-foot wingspans, and made from pink insulation foam. 

http://www.delago.de/solair/EHome.htm
Solair II, highly-detailed information, including motors, batteries, and propellers.