What little motors CAN do

This is  about  the  strangest  thing  I have  ever seen . RC model motor powered . http://www.e-volo.com/Home.html

amazing!!!
    looks like 16 small motors, brushless DC, i guess.
        if i could find a good cheep DC generator i would use DC in my skyboat design.  i will have to one day look into the efficiency factor of making a DC generator by myself.  it would use a 4-cycle gas engine to rotate a DC motor in reverse, generating DC to electrically drive another brushless DC propulsion motor. a bit complex and not the kind of construction im interested in...

this is an 80cc Zenoah engine putting out 5 hp and weighing 7 lbs!  I imagaine it connected to a 24VDC automotive alternator delivering 100 amps, 2400 watts, 3 hp, to big RC electric model airplane DC motors, fore and aft. the zenoah z-80 costs 900 bucks, darn.  and its a noisy 2 stroke.

   rather than rudders and elevators, i would have DC motor/fans fore and aft pointed sideways and veritcally to move the ends of the skyboat around dynamically for better maneuverability when docking the ship. those DC motors, [outrunners], only weigh 2 or 3 pounds so u can have a bunch of them mounted wherever theyll do the most good.  and use aluminum wiring instead of copper for better weight.

  and fixed wiring/motors is simpler and easier than control cables or servo actuators for steering.

the point is, im losing love for my 30 lb, 1 hp, 110VAC generator even tho it was only $300!

Here is a link to much cheaper Scale RC plane engines...

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__80__55__Gas_Glow_Engines_parts-Gas_Engines.html\

Go china. lol

Hey, like the way the envelope on your ship shimmers in Second Life,  but the controls are locked for flying!!  Let me know when its flyable....  my Av(i)ator is sitting in the flying hut.  You'll have to give me some guidance on building an airship in there!

Not so sure  those little  110 CC gas motors   At hobby king  might not  just be the  way to go   for power . 
 450. bucks . .

Will just one small engine work?

I've posted this diagram before. You have to take the drag horsepower and divide it by the prop efficiency and the motor efficiency and the motor horsepower to get the MINIMIUM number of engines to go the desired speed.