Jonboy2

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I am hoping someone out there might have experience with this airframe. I am considering purchasing this plane and recovering it with fabric which will add a little extra weight. On a few other threads I have read others with same airframe using 100cc size engines for this plane. My question is: what powerplant would be good with this airframe taking into account a little extra weight and the fact that I live here in Denver, Colorado and loose some say 20-25% of power due to altitude?? I do want plenty of power for 3d type flying. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jon

Hammbone

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Not sure why you would want to recover it with fabric, just for looks? Maybe your like me and don't like Monocote (I like Ultracote).
I was considering one of these planes as well until I found out it's covered in Monocote.

Anyway, this plane was designed for the BME 110 which is 2 lbs lighter than most other 100cc engines.
I'm in Fort Collins, so I also fly at your altitude. I have 4 BME 110's. They are the perfect engine for our altitude.
If you don't have a 110, it may be hard to find one, but they do come up for sale in the marketplace from time to time.

Jim

martinarcher

My Feedback: (10)

I agree with Hammbone. I wouldn't do fabirc on this bird. Keep it was light as you can if you are intending to 3D it. I hate heavy wingloading. I had a heavy 30% Ultimate with my DA-100 upfront that had plenty of 3D power, but just didn't float like this one will.

On the other hand...
Not sure what fabric would add as far as weight on the entire plane. If you could save over a pound with the BME110, you could afford to add a pound with fabric and still be in the ball park of where mine will be with the DA.

I am just finishing up my 37% Ultimate and I can tell you it is very well built. I also am an Ultracoat fan, but the Monocoat looks pretty smooth on this baby. It was pretty much perfect when I unpacked it, but has developed a few wrinkles that need attention from the iron before it leaves the build table, but that's just due to temp change.

Ken-h and JohnVH are the resident 37% Ultimate 3D experts - they will surely add some good advice. I can't wait to get mine up.

Here's is a pretty good thread on the Ultimate check it out...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3506670/tm.htm

Hammbone

My Feedback: (309)

Just to keep the facts straight, I have a DA 100 and BME 110. I have weighed them both on my digital scale with ignitions and stock mufflers.
The BME 110 is 2lbs 1oz lighter than the DA 100. So you're not saving over a pound, you're saving over 2 lbs. That is a huge difference!

Jim

nitro wing

My Feedback: (1)

I have read so many good things about this airframe.
It leaves me wondering why they are only 650$???
I dont even have a 100c,but feel like buying this airframe anyway for future use.

MikeEast

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I had the original prototype BME 37% Ultimate and I have the original prototype BME 110 engine and it is still flying in my Hangar 9 35% Extra 260

. I am good friends with Keiths relative Todd Blose that originally helped to design and build the plane with Keith and flew it with the protoype 110. I bought the combo from them.

I lost the plane at an IMAC meet a couple of years ago when the top wing sheered off in flight after I had put about 300 flights to add to the thousands that Todd had put on it.

It is a really great flying plane and comes in at about 26 pounds with the 110. The roll rate is insane and the plane is incredibly gentle and predictable. It lands very slowly without any stall issues as long as you use good common sense. For 3D its outstanding and handles great, it will do most anything you ask of it. For precision flight it tracks nicely and presents well but it is kindof hard to get it to snap right. Its all or none, I found it a little tricky to get it to flick so that a line can be held. Overall I would give it a 8 on a scale of 10 compared to some of the newer planes that would score a 10 but generally there is nothing bad I can say. The plane is a blast to fly.

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

I was watching a local guy fly it today without flying wires. He was doing some mild 3-D.....

What do you guys think about not using the wires, like the H9 version?

He also put a tab on the top wings to hold them together at the center sections along with the screws in the wingtube

MikeEast

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I do not think I would go without the flying wires. I dont think the wings are designed to be used without the wires. I know the wingtubes are really small.

krayzc-RCU

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i woud not chance it w/o the f/wires

sweetpea01

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Kinda what I thought, and I think Ken told me once that the wires were functional but I can't remember

This guy said that he was told they were not (back when BME was the company).

MikeEast

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Mine would break on occasion. That tells me they are functional. [8D]

sweetpea01

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Fair enough.......When I get around to building mine....I'll be sure to use them.

I am going to add some to the tail as well (I had already planned that)

David Jackson

My Feedback: (15)

I purchased the BME Ultimate when it was first released a few years back. I put the only engine I had available at the time which was a DA 150. Due to the weight of the engine, all batteries had to be located as far back as possible. I later replaced the 150 with the First Place 6.8 (116 CC), which is more than enough power to perform any maneuver you can imagine. The BME Ultimate is a great flying plane. Unfortunately, my plane is now sitting on a shelf in the garage collecting dusk as I moved on to other projects.

David Jackson

My Feedback: (15)

The flying wires are functional and they do break. I replaced some of the metal wires that broke with Kevlar. This seems to work well.

martinarcher

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That's good to hear. I put Kevlar on to start.

krayzc-RCU

My Feedback: (31)

i found out from talking with Robert Godfrey on my 30% Ultimate to keep the wires sort of lose. This has preventing mine from breaking anymore....

DA-150 r we talking about the same plane....

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

I plan to run Kevlar as well.

David Jackson

My Feedback: (15)

Yes, we are talking about the BME 37% Ultimate. I had originally purchased the DA 150 for a quarter scale F4U Corsair,but decided to install the engine in the Ultimate because the Corsair had not been built. The Corsair is still not completed, but the DA has found a new home in a 40% Yak, and the Ultimate now has a First Place 6.8 twin cylinder as its powerplant. The FP 6.8 provides more than enough power for the Ultimate.

martinarcher

My Feedback: (10)

Thats makes me feel good about putting a DA-100 on it and not having to worry about the airfarme strength.

Jonboy2

My Feedback: (62)

So, the DA 100 or 3w 100 will provide sufficient power for good pull out from a hover??? Hey also, can anyone tell me what size ultimate spinner fits on the front of that cowl? I saw on for sale at the hobby store today.

MikeEast

My Feedback: (3)

Yeah a 100 is way more than plenty. Its a light airframe and smaller than a 35% the fuse is more like the size of a 33% plane.

5" Ultimate spinner if I remember correctly. I still have the one from mine out in the shop somewhere.

dbcaster

Mike,
Is it a light airframe? I talked to Todd about it and he said it was 28 lbs. with the BME 110. It is actually the biggest 100cc bi-plane that I have seen. The reason that I am asking is because I am looking for a home for my DA-85 and I am just not sure if this will be too big. I had my 85 in a 23 lb. 102" Extra and it was a rocket but I just don't know about the Ultimate?

martinarcher

My Feedback: (10)

Spinner is 4.5 inch as it says in the manual on their website. I just got mine and it fits good.

martinarcher

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Check out post #277 on page 12. Info on the DA-85 on this bipe....

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_35...12/key_/tm.htm

MikeEast

My Feedback: (3)

I used my scales to weigh it after I got it from Todd and it was right at or a little over 26 pounds if memory serves me by my scales.
As far as the DA85, I am not sure I know for sure that it would be adequate to fly the plane, but I have never seen the DA85 in action.

It has an 80" wing. Sitting next to a 35% Extra it has a larger rudder but the fuse is shorter. Its a good size plane, but there are not many 100CC bipes out there to compare it to that I know of.

Here is a dopey picture of me with the plane to give a little perspective. I am 5' 10" and 250 pounds or thereabouts.