I'm novice flying a u-can-do 60 with FSii91 (2 degrees right thrust) and 15x4w APC prop (9500 rpm max). The plane balances inverted at 5 inches with no added weight. I use single rate with 20% expo on all surface controls with elevator +- 1 inch rudder +- 2 inches and Aileron +- 3/4 inch travel. No significant problems with over controlling the plane. I do find some of the flight characteristics outside of my expectations and would like to hear your experiences and get some advice.

1. The plane requires more than a little down elevator for level inverted flight.

2. I lose a lot of altitude turning with the ailerons. Previous planes Kadet Senior, Something Extra and 4* required only a little up elevator to hold altitude. The u-can-do seems to need a lot of up elevator to maintain altitude.

3. I end up with too much up elevator on final approach turn (needed to prevent losing altitude too fast). When I level the plane off I have to remind myself I'm holding a lot of up elevator.

4. The u-can-do is very sensitive to wind on landing. Sometimes it will float in and just slip to the side with wings level. Other times the tail shifts suddenly and or a wing will drop. Without wind it is a breeze to land with no bad habits. I usually keep 1/4 throttle until about 1-2 feet over the runway to maintain control authority.

5. No problems with trims for straight and level flight.

Pilot problem, setup problem or normal operation? Note: The pilot concedes the need for more experience.

Thanks,
dz06

nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. The up elevator during inverted might be cg related. Im unclear how to explain the aileron situation. I will maiden mine sometime this decade so i cant say for sure. maybe other owners can chime in on that.

I have seen many fly and they all seem prone to the wind. Its a light plane with a huge wing so that probably accounts for that


Check your lateral balance and throws just to be sure

good luck

matt

Inverted and the need for elevator when banked would seem to indicate a forward CG. Move it back a little at a time and see if it helps. The U-Can-Do has a very thick wing and it won't cut through the wind very easily hence the need to keep the nose down on glide approach, keep in mind it will baloon when you drop the tail and the wind catches the bottom of the wing unless you bleed off all the speed. The other option is to stay on the throttle and do a slight harrier landing but that will take a more experiance pilot.

I'll touch on the tail dropping in turns. If you have a computer radio, mix in about 10-15% rudder with the ailerons. Mine did the same thing, and that cured it. I've noticed that the UCD flys with the tail a little drooped. At least for me, it is MUCH easier to get vertical into a hover that way. You will love this plane when you get her all figured out.

Ok, I've sorted out most of the issues by relocating the engine back 1/2". Now the plane will fly inverted with slight down elevator and it no longer drops off so steeply during banked aileron turns. Still requires some elevator for banked turns, but that was expected. Before it took almost a quarter stick of up elevator to turn and maintain altitude.
Additional information for others with OS FS91ii. Switching from Wildcat 15% heli fuel to Magnum 30% Heli fuel eliminated 300 rpm drop at idle when igniter was removed. Now I am leaning out idle mix to get lower steady idle and adjusting for higher top end rpm.