Originally posted by McCoy
I think we are looking at this thing the wrong way by talking about putting larger engines in the ultimate. I sent Dave Patrick a letter about giving the market place a larger ultimate. It is clear to many of us that a larger ulitmate is needed. Lets look at the playing field there are no ultimate arfs for a 2.4 to 4.2 size out there. In this size you find the majority of your gas engines especially the 3.2.. What I am talking about is something with a 70"-80" ws. This would be the perfect size. Here is a guy Dave Patrick with a ARF Ultimate voted the best ARF in the land by MAN.
You would think he would be interested in producing something like this. I would of thought he would of made a bigger ultimate before he produce the .40 version.(remember he sells completly out of the 1.20 ultimates that he orders). He could sell them on a special order bases limited # he already has the drawings and knowleged to do so. It could be priced around $500.00-$600.00 something that we all could live with. I feel cheated that a company that we have supported with our money may stifle our abilities to move forward. I think all of us who love to fly ultimate should email him and let them know, I've already led the charge.
I would guess that he is working on one. Keep in mind, it takes alot more time to develop a large plane that can withstand the large gas engines. I'm sure he doesn't want similar problems to the ones that GP had with the first runs of their Pitts.
You feel cheated? Don't. If you want to move forward get a 1/3 Hangar 9 ARF. To feel that Dave Patrick is responsible for not allowing you to move forward in the hobby is absurd. A small company can only do so much, I would rather see them put more time in researching and developing the model than to have them rush it out to market before it is truly ready.