I LOVE this plane...I usually get 3 good (15 min) flights from a tank...the only problem I've had was self induced (ran out of fuel hovering at 30 feet...these make lousy lawn darts!). I'm getting ready to modify mine to get ready for our club cross-country...have to figure out a way to get about 120 ounces of fuel capacity in it!!! I'm also getting another one for a back-up...may play around with increasing the elevator surface on it...

Mark

where you been, Steven??? first you get us all excited about the G26 and then you disappear!
Just kidding, man. yeah, its a hit! I think we should organize an USL fly in. I too have thought about increasing elevator area, but I want to fly it a bit more first. I think DP wins for the best CG and it sounds like his can loop tighter than mine. I've made some changes, though, so we'll see what this weekend brings. BTW.....I'm off all next week! I should be practicing IMAC schedules or something.......I think I'll be goofing of with my stick, instead!

I'm also going to move my servos to the rear (they're in the stock location right now). That will give me more room up front for fuel tanks. My plane is just a touch nose heavy...I'd really like to fly it a little tail heavy, it fly's so well now, it should make it better.

I've actually been watching all the threads...was going to reply, but too busy flying Our flying field is 2 miles from my apartment, so I get out there a lot

Steven,
Are you using the aluminum back plate? I was thinking of taking it off, but am a little nervous about what that will do to the integrity of the mount.

I did not use the aluminum back plate...it's heavy, and that's less weight in the front of the plane. On the original Ultra Stick 120, that's what they recommended...substitute a quarter inch ply plate to fit the front of the plane. There's another guy in our club with an original Ultra Stick...he's not using the aluminum back plate, and it's been flying for a couple of years now...

Went flying this afternoon...I have max throws on everything (with expo), I never fly with low rates any more!!!

Hovers soooo easily!!

I have just read this thread and can't wait. I picked up mine just yesterday and will be starting it soon. I have plans to add the G-26 and will try many of the mods here. I have 2 other planes started so my finances will be stretched to get the engine and radio components. I am as excited as ever after reading through this.

I do have one question though. Has anyone had a deadstick yet and if so, how did it handle?

Man I can't wait.

Deadsticks are not a problem...it's a Stick, after all. The only time I've had trouble is running out of fuel while hovering too low to the ground. Otherwise, deadstick landing are no problem at all. Every deadstick I've had is when I intentionally kill the motor in the air...keep fuel in the thing, the motor will not die...

Mark

Almost finished with mine! These things go together soooo easy. Aft mounted my servos and battery,heavy duty dubro hardware all around, all i have left is mounting the Brison 2.4
I was actually hoping wyldman sees this an throws a few pointers if any right thrust was added and where the thrust line was. This bird is lite!!! I can tell it's going to just have monster vertical with the 2.4. Can't wait should be a blast. WYLDMAN WHERE ARE YOU????!!!!! Thanks!

Hey guys! I had last week off and burned 6 gallons of fuel!!!!!!!! Much of it with the Ultra Stick. I got the Slimline muffler and it made a huge difference. The hover pull out is much stronger. This plane is almost too easy to torque roll! Somebody just asked about dead sticks. My second day out I had some throttle linkage trouble and shut the engine off in the air. No problem at all. Its just a big ole stick! After about a million flights i will say its a blast to fly and a wonderful change of pace from the IMAC stuff. It doesn't roll quite as well as my other birds but that is to be expected with the wing design.

just wanted to check and see if anybody is using anything like a webra 120 , os 160 or even a fuji 50. thanks for the input cant wait to get mine in the air.

DP... I have a question on your servo config. I see that you bring both pushrods down the left side of the fin/rudder. Is there any reason that you didn't run one rod down the left then the other on the right? Mine is in the box, but I plan to move the servos to the tail as you did. I am also considering a hatch for the area where the rudder servo is, and putting the battery in the same compartment. Is this possible? From the pics, it looks like the battery is in the next compartment forward.

hooked,
my battery is in the tail, right ahead of the vertical fin. Be sure and get an aftermarket muffler. i went with the slimline and the power difference is significant. plenty of authority pulling out of a hover.

Hey Hooked, Before i did mine i was wondering the same thing.... I mounted one servo(elevator) on one side and the rudder on the oposite side, as well i made a tray for the battery all the way aft ant even mounted the RX switch/charge jack(MPI) back there as well. Just used a "y" harness and hooked up into one servo and wired my battery and switch all in the back ran the other side of the "y" along with the second servo extention up front. To do all this all i did was cut out 1 small section of clear ultracote out and then sealed it back up with a new piece, can not even tell it was ever even opened! If you ever have to get back there it's nothing to just slit it open and do the same thing or if your in a pinch at the field seal her back up with tape. My fuel tank mounts under the wing and leaves the space open up front for my ignition bats and switch. Worked out well! Now if i can just find the time to get it out to the field!!! I do air conditioning by trade and it started to warm up out here, starting to get busy again. Good luck!

Now...I keep wondering how long it will take before someone tries a DA 50 in one of these planes?

I jammed my battery as far back as it would go.. its right up the farthest aft bulkhead. I cut the covering away carefully, slipped the battery in (with foam surround) and it fit fine. I then re-sealed the covering. You can hardly tell I did it. Before I installed my battery, I knew it would need some tail weight so I put in 2oz of lead too. I hate to add weight, but I was using a heavy APC prop, IMO the best prop to get the most out of this engine.

Since I figured I would have flown the wings or the covering off this plane long before I'd need to get access to the battery, I simply covered the battery into the plane. I would have to cut the covering to get access.

I cut out all stuff that was not necessary.

I ran the servo rods on the same side only because I like to be able to look once to spot for problems. Its easier to see both rods at once during inspections while on the ground... otherwise .. there is no reason you could not do either side, split, etc..

Just FYI - after the first 20 or so flights I ditched the 4-40 rods, they were too long and too flexible for my liking. They vibrated considerably at low throttle and that was a red flag. I did not have any flutter, but just while on the ground at idle they buzzed from the vibes, so that was reason enough to stiffen them up. I replaced them with Carbon Fiber (Nelson Hobby) 3/16 rods with titanium 4/40 ends. Huge difference. No play at all now...

Oh yeah - I also added some 1/4 square stock to the former where the wing attaches (LE of wing) . My former worked its way loose and there was not much glue on it. I put the 1/4 stock (balsa) on each side, and underneath to top sheeting. Strong as steel now.



DP

I must say it sure would look pretty up front on that bird, would'nt it?? I have one on my GP patty Extra and i hated to cowl it up!!! HUMMMMMMMMM

I know...it's got me wondering too...I've got one on the way for my Sig Sukhoi...

There's no substitute for raw power

dp, 3-D Flyer, and AeroDave thanks for all the info guys. I an just itching to get started, but have to finish up an SE that is on the bench. I have everything covered except the fuse. I am awaiting a roll of covering that is on order. Cut too much out of it when covering the wings. Anyway, I will incorporate all of your suggestions, and will start out with the carbon rods and probably the slimline muffler. I am short on my budget for a little while, but will try to figure out how to get this done quicker. I was planning on using Hi Tec 605BB's for the servos, but see others mentioned here. Any problem with the 605's other than torque?

Thanks again.

3-D Flyer BTW: My wife and I used to live in Glen Ellyn. She is from around Homewood and I was transferred there by my job. Was there twice. Love Chicago, and would move back if the circumstances were right.

HookedonRC . 3-D .....

I used to live in Palatine and Long Grove... grew up in Barrington! Small world... I left that frozen, cold and wet miserable climate 4 years ago and would not move back for a $500K a year job! I retired from 3Com to move here... What was that saying about one man's paradise... I loved the city, but man that climate just killed me. I guess I spent too many years in Florida and California.. once you get a taste of the endless summer you long for it the rest of your life... I just got sick of Ill being the coldest place in the US every spring!

Anyway - enjoy the Ultra Stick.... Its a trip with G26 !!
I was ripping the sky up this AM


If you have questions PM me... I'll be glad to help!

DP

Not to get off of track on the planes but thought i would comment, yes the wether here stinks but it keeps me busy pretty much all year, i run a small heating and cooling buisness out here(work for myself) and this climate is $! However, You better believe in about another 8-9 years i will be a Florida resident by all means!! I was born a raised a south side chicagoan so this climate is normal for me. Anyway, good luck all on your planes, can not wait to fly mine, but as usual we have all these spring storms runnin thru here so it has been windy as anything lately.

OHH!! almost forgot NM Mark, about that D/A 50 deal, when i was originally searching here on RCU about these planes i found a tread that some guy was on that actually used a 3W 100 Twin on the original ultra stick 1.20!!!!![X(] It had like a 10 foot tall gear on it so the prop would clear! I do not think he would have to worry about unlimited vertical! Houston we have liftoff!!!
Later All!

Hello all,
Has anyone weighed thier Ultra Stick Lite yet with the G-26?

I just finished mine today. All up weight is 10.5 lbs on baby scale. May not be accurate - pretty cheap scale.

Motor is mounted without backplate.
Tank on CG.
3 servos in tail. Rudder is pull-pull. One servo on each side for each elevator.
Oh yeah...After reading this thread and seeing comments that the elevator could be more responsive, I made another horizontal fin and elevator. Dimensions are the same as original, just moved hinge line forward so half the surface is now moveable elevator.

Balance came out at 4.5 inches with no added weight. I can move the battery in front of the tank and get the CG on 4 1/8th as manual says. Is it worth it? I tend to fly everything tailheavy anyway.

Just waiting on the carbon fiber prop to be delivered and I can fly it - Can't wait!!

Tail heavy is no problem...makes it more fun to fly

10.5 pounds is awesome if that is what you have. I lightened mine where I could, and have basically the same setup and mine comes in at 11.4 pounds using an expensive digital strain gauge / scale.. so I know the weight is right on.

If you have 10.5 # you will have a very light bird. Tail heavy is a good thing... I put 2oz of lead in my tail just to make sure the CG was a little further back. Flies great and landings are very stable.. my CG is at 4.6" back.

My guess is that it will tolerate 5" if you keep it under 12 pounds.. if you build it heavy it could get snappy and unpredictable at low speeds..

DP

Has anyone tried to put a 3W-24 on a USL? I have this engine and am looking for a plane to put it on.

Thanks for any feedback.

RSN