Well, I've had the .46 size UCD with an OS .91 4stroke and now am flying the Reactor with a Saito .82.


With its huge & thick barn door wing the UCD is a much softer flying machine that amost floats in the air. It is easy to hover. It seemed to struggle a bit in knife edge, but I was using a 15x4 thrust prop so speed was not that great. I did not try spins or harriers. Take-offs and landings were nice and easy although the tail was dropping during landing due to the aft CG.


The Reactor is a different beast as the thin wing causes a faster flying machine that is harder (for me to hover) as you have to be hard on the controls; quicker to react, no pun inteneded. It does fly nicer, more precise, "sharper" etc. Snaps and tumbles are fun and my first spins with it were also good. I don't like the stock landing gear. It is too bad Great Planes had to go with the "sexy" look and ignored the real world need for a firm gear that doesn't want to tip the plane forward on both take-off and landing. I fight this by using 3D throw on the elevator to keep the nose up until take-off speed is achieved. I suppose I will cave and buy some aftermarket gear that attached to the bottom of the model.

The Reactor's covering is also sub-Great Planes quality, but if you keep up maintenance on it, it should last for a while. Personally I would not use an engine smaller than a .82 or .90/.91 for 3D work.