Quikturn

My Feedback: (12)

Yes, it's best (if not easiest) to balance upside down. Measure the balance point next to the fuselage sides.

Roary m

My Feedback: (67)

ST 90? sounds like a FrankenKaos.

smkrcflyer

So if my balance points are 4 inches from the side of the fuse then the CG point will be less than 4 3/8 due to the wing taper, correct?

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

It will be less than 4 inches because of wing taper. I had to rebalance mine because of this made it extremely tail heavy . I Balanced at the 4 inch mark and I was lucky to get it back down in one piece. I'm going to move it forward about a half inch and restart from there. Phil

bikerbc

I put retracts in my Ultra sport and if I was to do it over again I would not bother.. I have not had a lot of luck with them.. I am using the Eflite electric retracts and they require constant tweaking no matter how soft I bring it in.. Its a pain in the butt.. I would sooner have a Du Bro super strength Gear mounted just in front of the wing.. The retracts add a fair amount of weight too... This is my first build with retracts so maybe I am not being completely fair but I am being honest... If it was a Scale plane maybe that would be a different story but for just a sport fun flying plane that is not in competition I would have more fun if I didn't have to play with the gear constantly...I have a fair amount of clearance around my wheels too. Its not like they are restricted for room or anything.. It just the wire bends easily.. It will bend taxing .. I guess they are meant for a paved runway .

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

I have not had much trouble from my eflite retracts. I did have one burn out after maybe 1/2 dozen flights but Horizon replaced it with no question asked. I am not using the wire struts that came with them though, I replaced them with robostruts and so far they have worked well. I do have 1 issue though, when I first plug them in and operate the switch they start to cycle up and downlike they are trying to syncronize.I have to turn the reciever switch off then back on, sometimes more than once to make them stop. I believe that is caused by the little chip in thewye harness because it did it before I replaced the one that burned out.

I have read that lots of people have hada problem with the wire struts that come with them and usually replace them with a harder wire. Given the cost ($240 including the robostruts)and the cyclingissue, I probably won't do it again on a sport plane.

rglgatortail

My Feedback: (7)

The balance point is
shown on the plan (CG), and is located approximately 4-3/8
inches back from the leading edge. This is the balance point
at which your model should balance for your first flights.
Later, you may wish to experiment by shifting the balance up
to 3/8" forward or back to change the flying characteristics.

This balance point is the plane is upside down and the balancer if right up against the fuse, the taper dont matter. Basically the plane will want to balance on the back edge of the spar that is where i have my plane balanced at and no extra lead at all.

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

question for ultra sport flyers. I got my ultra sport .40 maidened this weekend and noticed the tail doesn't seem to follow the nose through turns. Is this a normal trait of the plane or do I have something weird going on? Phil #119 ultra sport brotherhood

rglgatortail

My Feedback: (7)

1. Where do you have the balance set at?
2. What motor are you using?
3. Did you build the plane or got it used?
4. What condition is the plane in as in if picked up used does it or has it been repaired?

The reason for these questions are very relevant because if for some reason you don't have the balance set in the range that the plane is suppose to have you are going to have some "weird" behavior. The reason I asked about the motor is because if you are using a small motor and you are just casual flying around the plane can have a tendency of flying like what you observe but maybe not, for the most part balance is the key for a good flying plane. Rule of thumb is that if you balance the plane forward of the ideal cg range the plane will track nicer but will make it harder for it to slow down for a landing and make it harder to take off, but if you was to balance the plane to the aft end of the cg range the plane will be easier to slow for landing and easier to take off but looses just a very little bit of tracking and glide. Let me know what you got with my questions and I'll throw some more at you. LOL

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

thanks for your response. I got it sorted out was a balance issue will play with it more once I get it repaired. Always remember when inverted push instead of pull. Thanks again. Phil

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

Oops!! Sorry to hear of the accident. Like the saying goes, "When inverted, down is up and up is expensive."

rglgatortail

My Feedback: (7)

Sorry to hear that you had a terra firma disagreement, is it easily fixable? Would it be possible to show a picture?

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

yeah pic on the way. Another question is that great planes don't sell the the canopy apparently. Does any one have an old airframe or spare canopy for the .40 size laying around that they would be willing to part with. The fuse is repaired just needs a new wing attached and then covered. Any help will be appreciated. Phil

rglgatortail

My Feedback: (7)

I Called tower hobbies and talked to a rep and she said that you may have to call the warranty dept Monday thru Friday 8 am. to 5 pm 271-398-0007. Another thought have you tried to call your local hobby shop and ask them if they are able to get the canopy for you?

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

my hobby shop said their rep couldn't find it. I guess maybe i'll to try the other hobby shop in town here aqnd see if they have better luck. Phil

VCScott

You can get it from Great Planes parts support, Part# CANPY041, 12.74 plus shipping.

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

well i guess i'll be ordering directly from great planes then. At least i know i can get it. Phil

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

just thought i would post some pics of my rebuilt or repaired ultra sport .40. Just need to add a silver stripe and fuelproof the nose and i'll start putting the gear back in. Phil

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

Looks very nice. Did you have any luck getting a new canopy?

adamle

After replacing 3 sets of retracts due to rough landings, I have removed the retracts completely and put a Dubro 60 size gear in front of the wing on the fuse. I loved making high speed passes with the wheels up but it was just too much to maintain.

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

i used the robart 608hd retracts and i haven't had a problem at all. I haven't been known to make real soft landing's.

bikerbc

I have had nothing but trouble with the elect , retracts in my Ultra Sport too.. They are bending constantly.. I am going to build a wing with out retracts and go with the Du-Bro Super Strength gear too ..

Quikturn

My Feedback: (12)

A larger diameter landing gear wire or robo struts should help.

smkrcflyer

I too have had trouble with the retracts. I'm thinking about build a wing without them. I would like to see some pictures of this plane with the gear on the fuse if anyone has one.

bikerbc

I thought about putting the Robo Struts on my retracts but from what I understand that voids the warrantee but I guess it doesn't really matter if you cant use them what good is a warrantee . Its the same story with heavy wire . If I drill them out my warrantee is void . I really would like to keep them because it does look cool when the wheels disappear .. I tried making my own wire struts from piano wire and they are much better but still when you do bend them they are harder to straighten out too.. I usually carry an extra set so all I need to do is swap them out when at the field and fix them in the vice at home ... I just might try the robo struts ..To heck with the warrantee ..