Just thought I'd weigh in with some high-altitude thoughts on the UCD 46. I fly at 5000 feet and am on my second engine in this plane in an attempt to get the vaunted unlimited vertical. The Magnum 61 on a 13 x 4W would not do it, though with a mousse can muffler it came close to hovering. Now I'm running an MVVS 77 with a mousse can setup on a 14 X 4W, bingo! I'm still trying to get used to how it flies on high rates, and get the CG dialled for blowing the tail around. I'm a rookie, flying since October, so that doesn't help either

I haven't been real happy with the landing gear setup. It was broken off twice before my current repair, where I added all kinds of wood, gussets, etc around a heavy oak gear block. Probably didn't help the weight any, but I stuffed the bird under a boat trailer and squished one side of the gear flat... and the mounting block was still fine! Can't say the same about the spinner, prop, engine mount, and wingtip though.

All in all I couldn't be happier with the plane, I think Great Planes is smoking crack for saying it's an 8 hour assembly job, mine was more like 20. But then we're back to that rookie thing. The flying characteristics are awesome and I always land with a smile. (except when the magnum would flame out in a spin, but that's another story)

slag.

Whats your altitude? I fly in denver (chat field) at about 4,800ft, and am putting a satio 1.00 on mine with a 15x4 or so, WILL be unlimited,... i promise.
Try this engine

David

I'm at 5000 feet, just up the road in Ft Collins. It does vertical with the .77 quite well, haven't even tuned the pipe yet. The 100 should be good, I've seen Funtanas, a lighter plane, with Saito 91's and in my opinion they need a little bit more.
I just weighed the ucd, and minus fuel it is 6 lbs even.

If it gets bad enough, mount the motor upright.... thats what I did. Your gonna have to modify your firewall a bit.

The needles are at factory settings for breakin. It is mounted inverted too. I think i'll wait a while and get that fuel regulator, that way I won't have to mess with anything else. Thanks for all the quick help. I just don't want to mess with it anymore. I just want it to run....

I fiberglassed my landing gear a few months ago. and have not had a problem since. this weekend i was out and had a dead stick into the rough. the block held together without a scratch, but it actually broke the blindnuts. all of these minor problems that have been talked about i have had with my plane, and fixed it all, and the plane still looks and flies like new. even with it's flaws this is still one of the best planes(and funnest) that i have owned.

Capt_Kc, when you coming back out?

if your tank outlet sits higher than the carb its going to siphion and flood you may be able to turn the tank over if the tank outlet is off center to get the carb a little higher than the outlet or get a differant tank ive had the same problem before and that fixes it everytime (just look and see it the fuel outlet from the tank is higher then the carb inlet )

I fly my UCD 46 with a Surpass .70 inverted. It runs absoutely fine, no flooding. I do ensure the carb is totally closed at shutdown (throttle kill switch on transmitter). Some guys use a Dubro fueler and keep the probe plugged in after fueling. I used a Cline on my UCD 60 with inverted Saito 100. Worked great until I couldn't start it one day - regulator failed. Took it off and I'm having a difficult time getting a good idle without it. I keep having to tweak the idle mixture. I've read from other RCU posts the diaphragm in the Cline lasts about 3 years. My Cline is 5 years old.

Are H. stab supports recommended on the .46? I was thinking about using some CF rods on the lower part of the stab like my FuntanaS. I just dont know if they are really needed or not. I am doing the electric conversion on this plane with a MEGA 22/30/2 4S4P 8ah TP's, 18X10. Stats read about 1.83:1 in thrust to weight ratio. I am thinking that this plane will replace my Funtana. Any thoughts on the supports or other mods that need to be done (ie. Gear plate)?

Thanks guys,
-mike
www.atlantaeflyers.com

There seems to have been a bad batch of UCD's which have had problems with the tail, i will be using a sullivan flying wire kit to brace the tail section up on mine, hopefully avoid any problems.

Hey guys...I just received my UCanDo 46 last night. It came without breakage and having read this entire post, I have an idea of improvements that I will make. I have been flying for 15 years, but this will be my first attempt at 3D.

I will be using a Saito .80 on it swinging a 14x4W prop. If this does not work, then I have a Saito .91 sitting here (it was destined for another plane, I should not need it, the .80 is plenty)

I will also be glassing the landing gear block, bracing the stabs, and soaking in some thin CA to the servo mount ribs and fuse in front of the stabs. These seem to be the common "fracture" points, so I will be doing all of this in a pre-emptive effort.

I fly off grass, so the wheel pants can go screw themselves! They are not being put on. And since I care more about flying than the looks, I will probably mount the Saito upright for better cooling and also eliminate the flooding tendencies of this design. Besides, If I cared about looks I wouldn't have gotten this plane!

I will post back after the weekend and let you all know how it goes!

Put the 80 on the shelf and pull out the 91 ! Then you will have a plane to learn 3D with. The 80 won't give you the get up and go you need for learning hover ETC.

Yeah, well.....I have two planes that I will be trying out at the same time....I am saving the .91 for the Funtana 3d! Since it is the more "radical" 3D bird of the two, the .91 is going on it.

(I didn't want to bring up the Funtana in this thread)

I have a new UCD46 that I am putting together and a new YS 63 to put on it. After reading a lot about troubles with t inverted engines siphoning, I am thinking about putting the engine in upright - at least initially. I have the YS on an old 60 Stick now, planning to move to the UCD after I get some practice with the Stick.
Is the upright engine going to be a problem aside from the cowl?
Can I use the cowl with the engine upright - cowl modified - or is that a bad idea?
Does anyone have a picture of a UCD46 with an upright engine?

Yeah it can be used...you just cut a hole in the top...this will actually help keep the engine cooler since more of the cylinder/cylinder head is exposed to the air.

Hey there outonalimb! Sorry I missed the fly-in. If I'm ever up that way on a pretty day I'll be sure to bring my planes with me. I really look forward to seeing another UCANDO in action. Mine is the only one I've seen in person.

Have a good one,

I would like to hear from someone that actually has a UCD46 with an upright engine in it. Is it a good idea, ok or a bad idea? After I cut a hole in the top of the cowl it won't be easy to go back.

How did you cut the cowl?

Jack,I had the YS63 in mine inverted and it was fine.With the pump/reg on that engine you will not have flooding problems.I am installing a saito 91 in it now as at 5000ft the YS flew it great-hovers at 1/2 throttle but I wanted a little more power.The YS has a new home in the new Extreme Flight profile Edge.

Hi Jack,
If I had a YS i would go for the inverted route, no questions asked. In my UCD46, I am going to use an OS 91, bit heavy but it seems to sort out some of balancing issues, and so far in initial tests, i should be able to work around the siphoning problems, otherwise i will look at putting in some sort of regulator.

My flyin' buddy mounts all his engines upright in his UCD, FLIP 3D, Fun World 3D, etc. and loves 'em that way due to easier access, no remote glow, better cooling, no flooding, etc. I mount all mine inverted 'cause it simply looks better, and I just deal with the possible problems. I definately would mount the YS 63 inveted, but that's me. My buddy has a YS .63 in his UCD 46 and mounted it upright, again 'cause it's easier overall.

I run a OS 91 surpass 2 and have no problems, once in the air this plane is a blast it is so thin though and has no real good places to pick it up, I think next plane will be something else, or at least until GP strenghtens this bird a little.

qweedqwag,
Did you have to add any right thrust to the stock setup? What prop are you using?
Did you have to reenforce the firewall any? My set up will be identical to yours.
Thanx

Gary,

No I did not add any right thrust and it did not seem to need any, the OS 91 was perfectly 5 inches from the firewall as the suggest, I did crash and destroy mine today, had a flame out and tried to land in a cross wind and then got into a tailwind and stalled it, tip stalled right into the ground total loss, I have one on order though, this time I think I will add an onboard glow for low end as I think this time it flooded and caused the dead stick, or I my lower the stock mount and mount the engine right side up.

Arggguhhh.
At least you didn't break your prop! And the tail stayed on! Were you getting a lot of flameouts before the crash or had you flown it much with the inverted OS.91?
Thanx