Your Battery Choice Could Makes or Breaks 1100mm sized RC plane Airframe
“A warbird flies on its center of gravity (CoG), not just its wings.”
As we put the final touches on our latest 1100mm PNF warbird (codenamed: Aleutian Stripe), our test pilots spent weeks in the hangar dialing in the power system. This airframe features a relatively short nose moment. While this gives it that aggressive, muscular scale look, it means battery weight and physical dimensions are critical to achieving the perfect balance without adding dead lead weight.
We tested our Turnigy 2200mAh batteries - and the 3300mAh shorty "cheater" - to see how each affects performance, handling, and that infamous propeller howl.
Here is the breakdown.
The Contenders: Physical Dimensions & Weight
Before we talk about flight performance, let’s talk about fitment. The battery bay on this 1100mm airframe is deep but relatively short to maintain structural integrity around the firewall. You will have to push the battery all the way to front to maintain the Centre of Gravity.
| Battery Model | SKU | Type | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Weight | Fitting & Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnigy 2200mAh 4S (14.8V) 30C Shorty | 9067110007 | Standard/ Affortable |
79 x 32 x 35mm | 181g | Perfect Fit, light weight |
| Turnigy 2200mAh 3S (11.1V) 40C | 9067110030 | Standard/ Affortable |
106 x 35 x 23mm | 167g | Loose fit, light weight, a bit under power but could still fly |
| Turnigy 2200mAh 4S (14.8V) 40C | 9067110031 | Standard/ Affortable |
106 x 35 x 29mm | 216g | Perfect Fit, the best balanced all around pack |
| Turnigy Graphene 2200mAh 3S 11.1V 100C | 9067160610 | High Performance | 106 x 35 x 26 mm | 218g | Loose Fit, Sanppy response |
| Turnigy Graphene 2200mAh 4S 14.8V 100C | 9067160611 | High Performance | 107 x 36 x 34 mm | 244g | Perfect Fit, On the heavy side but sanppy response |
| Turnigy Heavy Duty 3S 2200mAh 11.1V 60C | 9067160609 | Perfect all around | 109 x 35 x25mm | 178g | Loose Fit, Sanppy response |
| Turnigy Heavy Duty 4S 2200mAh 14.8V 60C | 9067160608 | Perfect all around | 107 x 35 x 32mm | 228g | Perfect Fit, the best balanced all around pack |
| Turnigy 3300mAh 3S (11.1V) 30C Shorty | 9067110010 | Long Flight time | 110 x 32 x 27mm | 209g | Loose fit, get this pack if you wanted to challange your flight time! |
Flight Performance & CoG Data
We mounted each battery in the plane and pushed fully forward against the firewall. Our experience are as follows:
1. The "2200mah Shorty" Advantage (Turnigy 2200mah 4S Shorty)
CoG Result: Light weight, Slightly Aft (Tail-heavy) – moving everything as close to forward as possible (including the ESC)
Flight Character: Lightning-fast roll rate. Extremely agile. Perfect for advanced pilots who want 3D-like authority.
Who it’s for: The adrenaline junkie who flies off pavement and prioritizes snap maneuvers over scale speed.
2. The Sweet Spot (Turnigy 3S/4S 40C Standard)
CoG Result: Neutral
Flight Character: Light weight, Predictable, groovy, and stable. The 4S 40C produced the most authentic “warbird howl” on high-speed passes.
Who it’s for: The scale purist. This combo requires zero transmitter mixing for elevator compensation when deploying flaps.
3. The Graphene & Heavy Duty (3S/4S & 100C/60C)
CoG Result: Neutral, Graphene 2200mah 4S is a bit nose heavy
Flight Character: Rock-solid in wind. Tracks like it’s on rails. Requires a click of up-elevator trim.
Who it’s for: Pilots flying off grass who want extra inertia to punch through headwinds.
4. The "3300mah Shorty" Surprise (Turnigy 3300mah 3S Shorty)
CoG Result: Neutral
Flight Character: Insane flight time. A bit sluggish but sill OK to fly. We stuffed extra 1100mAh into a 2200mah standard size pack so there must be some trade off in performance
Who it’s for: Weekend lazy day who just wanted stay in the air as long as possible
Our Recommended Starting Points
For your maiden flight, we recommend use 4S battery and setting your timer to 4 minutes. Starting with
Important Caveat: The Graphene 100C is the heaviest pack in our test. If you use this, you must adjust your elevator rates higher to compensate for the forward CoG during landing flair.
The "Sound" Factor
We also used a decibel meter (just for fun) to measure the prop noise. The 4S battery produced louder pitch scream. If you're chasing for "Howling" sound, any 4S packs are your clear winners.
Final Word from the Test Team
This airframe is somehow forgiving if you match the battery to your flying style. We designed the battery tray with a velcro strap that accommodates thicknesses from 24mm (Shorty) up to 32mm (Standard 4S).
We are currently finalizing the production run. The official name and exact release date of this 1100mm warbird will be announced shortly—but now you have a 1-week head start on selecting your ideal power plant.
Which pack will you fly first? Let us know in the comments.
