[smuzz]

As Dave says, linear regs are less efficient - the excess voltage for a given load current is dissipated as waste heat (often just a zener diode to clamp the voltage and a couple of resistors).

Yes Claudio - tends to match up with the need for larger heatsinks which I'd read about.

Switching regs act much like a simple DC motor speed controller - continuously varying the duty cycle, and hence (generally) waste much less energy, with the trade-off being things like increased cost, complexity, EMI etc.

Yes - this also adds up, the EMI from the switching would be the reason behind the torroidal chokes that are found on the receiver leads on most/all the examples I've seen.

I've got a Turnigy 5A UBEC from HK that you're welcome to. That said, I've been using a Castle Creations 10A BEC in the mini UAV to drive the servos and run the auto-pilot, on the basis that this was much safer than trusting the no-name ESC - retail about $25.

Thanks mate, but this isn't urgent so there isn't any need for me to deplete your stock

BTW, you probably already know this, but be sure to remove the red/power wire from the throttle/ESC servo plug before plugging it into the receiver when using an external BEC, lest you let the magic smoke out of one or both as they fight each other to regulate the voltage.

Yep - not going to be caught out by that one.

Nice Stuka... did it come with "Jericho trumpets"?

This particular version, the Ju-87G, apparently didn't have them. It was not a dive-bomber, but was fitted with the two (pretty obvious) anti-aircraft guns and turned into a tank-buster on the Eastern front. I have never really been a fan of this particular plane, but its ugly and sinister form have a certain appeal to my ugly sinister side