Motor Data

Radio Shack 1.5-3v motor. Radio shack says that this motor runs on 1.5 to 3 volts and draws up to 1 amps, but it seems to work fine up to 6 volts, drawing 2 amps. It's not a very efficient motor -- only for the very lightest models, then at 4.8 or 6 volts. Goldie uses two of these, and manages to hover briefly at 3.6 volts. The chief advantage of this model is its price -- $1.49.

Radio Shack 9-18v
Volts	Watts
6	4.3
9	9.7
12	17
15	27
18	39

Radio Shack 9-18v motor. This motor is inexpensive -- about $4 at radio shack -- and it is one of the few motors you can find that will provide a smallish amount of power at 6-8 cells. This is useful because most model airplane motors provide far more power than you need for a lift motor. This motor will provide 7.4 watts at 8 volts -- which may be enough for a 11-15 ounce hovercraft. On the other hand, don't use it for a thrust motor unless you can run it at 12-18 volts.

Speed 280
Volts	Amps	Watts
4	1.0	4.1
5	1.3	6.4
6	1.5	9.2
7	1.8	12.5
8	2.1	16.4

Speed 280 6v. This is a standard model airplane motor size for small models. They cost about $8-10. Mine, on a 5x4 prop (6x3 is recommended), draws 1.56A at 6.1v and generates about 2.5 oz. static thrust. At 8.9v (9.6v NiCad battery pack) it seems to draw about 2.3 amps and generate 5 oz. thrust.

Cute Little $5 Toytronix Motor
Volts	Amps	Watts
3	1.1	3.2
4	1.4	5.6
5	1.8	8.8
6	2.2	12.6

Cute little $5 motor from Toytronix model airplane. This motor measures 0.625" by 0.81" by 1.25" and draws 1.75 amps, 8 watts from a 5-AAA NiCad pack. It generates a very nice amount of thrust for the power -- 2.5 or 3 ounces? -- for 10 minutes from that little battery pack on a $2, 4.5" push-on pusher prop. It gets a bit warm so I wouldn't run it at a much higher voltage. These motors and props are a good deal! Note: you can get the motor and prop from Toytronix by looking for spare parts for their model airplane. The R/C radio, receiver, servo, etc. are also inexpensive.