Kwik-Fli, Slow Build: The Enya 60

Kwik-Fli, Slow Build Blog Series header graphic. With a close-up of the model's engine at center, the graphic is done in orange and blue.Phil Kraft originally flew his Kwik-Fli Mk. II with a Veco 45, but settled on using a larger engine – most notably the MRC Enya 60 II TV. With this model and engine, Phil repeatedly won – and earned himself a spot on the USA Team heading to the 1967 RC World Championships – and then won the 1967 RC World Championships (flying the Kwik-Fli Mk. III).

The Enya 60 II TV has twin ball bearings, weighs 13.6 ounces and a maximum of 1.1 horsepower, with a high speed of 10,000-12,500 rpm.

Ad text titled, "Consistent Winner." Text details Phil Kraft, his Kwik-Fli II and the virtues of the Enya 60 TV engine that he powers his model with There's a drawing of the engine, too.
Part of an Enya 60 ad, from Model Airplane News, January 1967.

Beppe Fascione, however, decided to go a slightly different route. According to his log entry of 13 March 2011, “After a lot of thought and test, I’ve decide to use on this a/c the ENYA 60 III with a G-8 Carb on a back plate. It’s an engine I had planned to install on the Mk. III, but then I discovered the Top Flite kit calls for wood bearings, so I decided to use a Kraft 61 there.”

When it came time to donate the Kwik-Fli to the museum, Beppe decided that his engine choice wasn’t close enough to Phil’s original Enya, and he instead found an installed a Enya 60 II with exhaust baffle, which isn’t quite what Phil used, but Beppe thought was a closer choice. This is still the engine installed in the model.

Close up of the engine installed in the nose of the Kwik-Fli Mk. II.
The Enya 60 with exhaust baffle installed in the Kwik-Fli Mk. II.
The Enya 60 with exhaust baffle installed in the Kwik-Fli Mk. II.
Close up of the engine installed in the nose of the Kwik-Fli Mk. II

Next post: November 9, 2020

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For more information on the National Model Aviation Museum, including our location, hours and admission fees visit: www.modelaircraft.org/museum

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