1994 – The first brushless model aircraft motors arrived from the United States

The technology behind electronically commutated electric motors had been known for a long time before they were first used in model aircraft in 1994. The major advantages of these motors—their excellent controllability and the elimination of commutator wear—had long been recognized, particularly for industrial applications. However, the speed controllers were initially the size of a refrigerator. Alberto Colotti wrote in his thesis: “The history of brushless motors began in the 1960s in the United States. The space program required variable-speed drives that had to operate without brushes. Many patents and developments in this field can therefore be traced back to NASA.” In electric model aircraft, carbon dust in the fuselage was highly undesirable. Problems with onboard electronics, such as speed controllers and receivers, could never be ruled out. The relatively late adoption of brushless motors in model aviation was likely due less to the construction of such small motors and much more to the miniaturization of the associated high-performance speed controllers. Initially, the motors were also equipped with sensors that “indicated” the rotor’s position to the speed controller and were used primarily for startup. This was only for a short time, however, as sensorless motors soon came onto the market.

The first successful use of Aveox brushless motors at the 1994 F5B World Championships in Wangaratta, Australia, caught the attention of the modeling community. However, the high rotational speeds (up to 15,000 rpm) and the associated noise did not generate much enthusiasm within the community. The solution came, in particular, from Europe’s extensive experience with planetary gearboxes. This is what truly helped the brushless motor achieve its breakthrough.

GZ