Had first flight on this bipe today. Even though it took 8 months to get it and I had other service related problems with parts, the plane flies like it is on rails. As I have read, I would also suggest replacing the stock landing gear. It bends too easily. I barely made it back to the field on a deadstick, and the landing (which wasn't all that hard) caused the wheel pants to hit the bottom wing and caused some damage. Balsa crushed behind leading edge. The leading edge is fine, but still a pain in butt.

Even just sitting on the ground, the landing gear is flexed out. Also the supplied wheels get flat spots very easily from. I will replace these also.

I put a Saito 1.50 in it and being my first large plane, I'm still intimidated a bit. I had a friend put it through its paces and he likes it. It was a pleasure to watch and know what I will be able to do, once I get over my initial fear of crashing all that money.

I used Futaba S9402 servos for pull-pull rudder and one for each half of elevator. I used carbon fibre push rods instead of the pull-pull on the elevator.

My main problem is I need a bigger van in order to keep it together. I can fit it in with the bottom wing on. Just replacing the top isn;t too bad.

How well does the Saito 150 pull it? I just finished my second one and went back with a Webra 120. I had a Saito 150 in my cub and toyed with the idea of using it in the Ultimate but didn't. Was weight an issue. Did you have to add tail weight?

Forget your anxieties about flying this plane. It handles better than most low wing planes and will land as slow as a trainer.

The Saito 1.50 has only had a few flights so still is running really rich. 16oz tank gives 7 minutes flight right now. I think it balances perfectly on the 1.5" point. It might even be a touch tail heavy. As for pull, I haven't used more than half throttle yet and it hovers just under half throttle.

I chose this engine because of a review I read. I am using a 16x8 APC prop.

Just have to add some bigger wheels as we have a grass field and the grass is long.

It appears by you picture that you put a control horn backing on the top of the ailerons. I assuming that you don't trust the plywood mounting. BTW, what happened to your first one?

Yes, I did use backing plates and no I didn't trust the plywood and wood screws.

As for my last one I am not sure what happened. There was an experienced pilot flying it and he said whenever he gave it elevator it rolled out on him. All the pull-pull cables were intact. The elevator control horn on the right side was broken in half. The vertical section of the horn was still attatched to the clevis and the base was attatched to the elevator, or a piece of it anyway. There's no way to tell waht happened in flight and what happened when it went in. For details and Pics go here....

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...10&forumid=144]