I have omitted all the unecessary "junk" from the UCD (cowl, pants, spinner, all those ugly monokote color splashes, and decals - basically anything that adds weight that does not help if fly!) , I used lithium Ion power and a micro servo for throttle, and hand-made some carbon fiber landing gear. I also converted to rudder pull-pull since there was more room with a mini throttle servo (got a LOT more rudder throw!). Weighs in at 4.5 pounds. UNLIMITED vertical with a Saito 72 on 15% Nitro.

Of all the .70 sized 4-strokes, I think the saito is the best. In fact, when I was into glow, I canned all my OS engines and ran only Saito (YS for pattern).

I can make the UCD dance up and down in a torque roll at will, so there is no shortage of power with that engine! They key is to build it as light as possible. Its already a hideous plane, so why bother putting all the plastic crap on it... to try to make it look good? It won't work! !! just fly it!!

Its gonna scrape the ground now and then any way if you punish it the way its meant to be punished!!

You will be amazed at the tricks you can do when it weighs only 4.5#

DP