Ultra Lightning Grass runway
03-11-2012, 08:03 AM
#1
Ultra Lightning Grass runway
Looking for anyone that has experience with operating a Ultra Lightning Off a good runway. P160SX standard fuel tank put this aircraft in the 46 to 48 LBS take off WT. and with the extra drag of the grass will 500 feet be good. Temp 50 to 65 degrees and 300 feet above sea level as good day here in Alaska.
03-11-2012, 10:34 AM
#3
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
500' should be okdue to the Ultra's huge glider wings. Iflew an orginalLightning with weak Jetcat Titan for 2 summers off my local club's grasswith no major issues. That's even with pushing the old straight struts and shopping cart wheels thrusomethickgrass. However, I did not have a heavy cockpit, so Isaved a couple pounds. A friend of mine flies a classic with P160sx, no cockpit, no main gear doors and has no issues. Icurrently fly an Ultra Lightning, but power is no problem with a P180 and Behotec trailing struts are the best for grass. Here's some taxi, take-off & landing shots.
03-11-2012, 11:40 AM
#4
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
Here's a video off grass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar0IAxJ1jWA
It's an AMT Olympus for power though. If you are running 160 size I suggest keeping it light as possible.
PaulD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar0IAxJ1jWA
It's an AMT Olympus for power though. If you are running 160 size I suggest keeping it light as possible.
PaulD
03-11-2012, 03:49 PM
#6
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
I found this vid ofa Wren 160 poweredUL flying off what I would consider an average grass field.
However this guy is using Tam's pipe, carbon wing tube & no pilot to keep the weight down.
http://youtu.be/V-MshxxdUWE
However this guy is using Tam's pipe, carbon wing tube & no pilot to keep the weight down.
http://youtu.be/V-MshxxdUWE
03-12-2012, 12:17 AM
#7
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
I used to own a Rhino powered UL a few years back. It was by no means a lightweight as it was fully loaded ( Smoke, Lights, Painted finish) This model probably flew from grass as much as it did tarmac. Sure, it never was one of those models that would leap off the floor and go straight up, but having said that even a 200 powered stock UL would do that. I never once had an issue rotation from a grass surface. All I found was that the first circuit would be spent cleaning up and getting to speed, where as the guys with 200 or amt olympus powered UL's would be up and going allot quicker.
In this photo gallery, you can see my UL ( Whacky painted one) flying alongside two stock UL's but with amt Olympus for power. I will never forget the fact that mine stayed side by side these two other than the last few seconds of a vertical run.
http://www.alsgallery.co.uk/view_alb...ver-Pampa-2010
Regards Al
In this photo gallery, you can see my UL ( Whacky painted one) flying alongside two stock UL's but with amt Olympus for power. I will never forget the fact that mine stayed side by side these two other than the last few seconds of a vertical run.
http://www.alsgallery.co.uk/view_alb...ver-Pampa-2010
Regards Al
03-12-2012, 05:10 AM
#8
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
You should have no problem at all with 500 feet of grass runway. My UL was the same setup as yours with the 160SX. Takeoff run was longer than the landing space as the Ultra Lightning comes in sooo slow - even with no wind.
Our grass field is about 300 feet and it came in and out with ease - superb jet. Mine is now in the hands of another happy owner and I miss it !
regards
Colin
Our grass field is about 300 feet and it came in and out with ease - superb jet. Mine is now in the hands of another happy owner and I miss it !
regards
Colin
03-12-2012, 06:50 AM
#9
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
Thanks for the Post
My Ultra has smoke no Pilot cockpit and is 38 lbs with smoke system I may remove the Smoke and that will put it at About 36.5 Lbs. Our 500 foot field has the best surface and short grass. I plain on giving it a go this summer. Thanks so much for all the great news.
Patrick Martin
My Ultra has smoke no Pilot cockpit and is 38 lbs with smoke system I may remove the Smoke and that will put it at About 36.5 Lbs. Our 500 foot field has the best surface and short grass. I plain on giving it a go this summer. Thanks so much for all the great news.
Patrick Martin
03-12-2012, 08:43 PM
#10
Senior Member
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
ORIGINAL: Ali
I used to own a Rhino powered UL a few years back. It was by no means a lightweight as it was fully loaded ( Smoke, Lights, Painted finish) This model probably flew from grass as much as it did tarmac. Sure, it never was one of those models that would leap off the floor and go straight up, but having said that even a 200 powered stock UL would do that. I never once had an issue rotation from a grass surface. All I found was that the first circuit would be spent cleaning up and getting to speed, where as the guys with 200 or amt olympus powered UL's would be up and going allot quicker.
In this photo gallery, you can see my UL ( Whacky painted one) flying alongside two stock UL's but with amt Olympus for power. I will never forget the fact that mine stayed side by side these two other than the last few seconds of a vertical run.
http://www.alsgallery.co.uk/view_alb...ver-Pampa-2010
Regards Al
I used to own a Rhino powered UL a few years back. It was by no means a lightweight as it was fully loaded ( Smoke, Lights, Painted finish) This model probably flew from grass as much as it did tarmac. Sure, it never was one of those models that would leap off the floor and go straight up, but having said that even a 200 powered stock UL would do that. I never once had an issue rotation from a grass surface. All I found was that the first circuit would be spent cleaning up and getting to speed, where as the guys with 200 or amt olympus powered UL's would be up and going allot quicker.
In this photo gallery, you can see my UL ( Whacky painted one) flying alongside two stock UL's but with amt Olympus for power. I will never forget the fact that mine stayed side by side these two other than the last few seconds of a vertical run.
http://www.alsgallery.co.uk/view_alb...ver-Pampa-2010
Regards Al
07-23-2013, 07:52 AM
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
Getting toward the end of building a freinds UL now.......only taken 5 months 
Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated 
Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now.
Regards
Jame
Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now. Regards
Jame
07-23-2013, 08:10 AM
#12
RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
ORIGINAL: Jame
Getting toward the end of building a freinds UL now.......only taken 5 months Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now.
Regards
Jame
Getting toward the end of building a freinds UL now.......only taken 5 months
Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now. Regards
Jame
That is one cool install!
07-23-2013, 08:36 AM
#13
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
I have a 180 in mine, I don't have a problem taking off as long as the grass runway is SMOOTH, the biggest problems I see with grass runways is not that the jet can't get up to speed, its the little ruts/pits and pot holes on grass runways can trigger a pre-mature take off where the nose gear falls into the pit and bounces up, this causes a NOSE up attitude and can result in the jet stalling on take off.
Also I dial in 35% flaps for take offs, the UL can fly slow so you don't need to have ballistic take off speeds.
Also I dial in 35% flaps for take offs, the UL can fly slow so you don't need to have ballistic take off speeds.
07-23-2013, 09:23 AM
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
07-23-2013, 09:35 AM
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RE: Ultra Lightning Grass runway
ORIGINAL: AndyAndrews
That is one cool install!
ORIGINAL: Jame
Getting toward the end of building a freinds UL now.......only taken 5 months Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now.
Regards
Jame
Getting toward the end of building a freinds UL now.......only taken 5 months
Ive been trying to find the thread that Geoff has posted on with his Movements / Expo settings, do you have your C of G on the Wing Tube with the Wings off aswell Didier?? Any help with a good starting point on the Control Throws would be much appreciated Still a bit more to do on the Install but getting there now. Regards
Jame
That is one cool install!
Really, gives a new meaning to "lightening holes/bolts"
Marty
