After a season of very sporadic flying, I finally got some serious time in with my "move-up" airplane - the Hangar 9 UltraStick 40. Mine is powered by a Saito .62 (my first experience with 4-strokes).

After trimming it out I started "cutting loose" a bit but noticed a pronounced "howl", especially with the stick cruising at high speed on the downline.

Another club member showed up today with his US120 with another 4-stroke and it too, had it's own distinctive sound.

Love flying the US, it penetrates the wind better than my venerable trainer (Sig LT-40) but slows down for landing just like a trainer.

And, what would be the best prop for this combo? Currently running an APC 12-6. Would a 13-6 be better? 12-7? I'm taching 9800 on the ground with the 12-6 and 15% fuel.

My boy shown here prepping MY Stick. He flies his own Mini UltraStick w/Park 480 and 11-7 prop.

There were so many Ultra Sticks at my first field that I guess it was just a given fact, but yeah....Ultra Sticks sound distinctive for sure. I have no idea why, but yup....they howl.

You might need to prop up to rev-down that motor. Prop selection is really dependent on what you want to do. Do you want more speed (always a common theme with me)? Then go with a 12x7 or an 11x8. Do you want more vertical? Go with a 13x4 or a 12x5 and run it a tiny bit rich.

A lot of people that haven't seen a fast ultra stick don't believe me when I tell them how fast/fun/stable an ultra stick can be when you prop it right and dive at the ground. I had passes over 100mph in my Ultra Stick, inverted, inches off the ground. Once, I landed with a grass stain on the top of my rudder (no joke).

If you really want to hear your Ultra Stik .40 howl, mount a Webra or OS .55 on the nose, while using a Jett Engineering high performance muffler and an 11x6 or smaller propeller. Yowza! You won't need to dive to gain momentum. Just fly by at full throttle completely level. <G>


Ed Cregger

Mine howled any time I was in a slight dive, and I loved that sound. At first I thought it was a prelude to flutter but all was well. A nice distinctive trait that gets folks looking skyward.

Daryll

Yep, all Ultra Sticks howl. I always thought the howl was the wind noise generated by the flat front end. It isn’t very aerodynamic in that area. Other stick type models make a similar noise but to a lesser degree.

Yes they do. Two guys at my airfield take theirs out togethe and they sound really cool out there. The faster or bigger the plane the louder they howl. I am guessing the howling is from the wind traveling over the wings. The first time I heard it, I was pretty new to flying and it scared me because I thought something was wrong with my plane. I am actually going to buy one now because I think that sound is awesome coming off those 90 size planes.

I guess then, that just adds to their "fun factor". Now I have 2 new sounds - the throaty growl of the Saito and the Stick howl.

Reminds me of when I was a kid growing up around USAF bases. Another distinctive howl I'm familiar with was the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and its GE J-79 engine. I grew up during the Century series of fighter aircraft...

A bit more practice and I'm going to have to get some longer arms on my wing servos. The stock arms on my HS-475HBs won't allow for the full deflection the Stick needs (or I want).

Great 2nd airplane, ain't it?

Hangar 9 Ultra Stick 40...lovely plane that.

I had the red and white one with a ASP 46 on it and even that howling sounded awesome. You do fast passes just too hear that thing . The Ultra Stick is a great plane (I'm still sad I sold mine). Like the guy at the hobby shop once told me - everyone should own a Stick . I only had the H9 one so I can't talk about the others - but that plane can take almost any beating you throw at it. Oh and the landings was a joy! You can bring her in nice and slow without worrying about stalling.

I was stationed at Luke AFB in late 1965 as my first duty assignment. The German student pilots trained on the F-104 and much of the flying done there at Luke was by the F-104's. I got so used to hearing the sound of the 104 moan that I can still recognize it to this day, like when an F-104 came to Chattanooga, TN's Lovell field some years ago as part of an airshow. I recognized the plane before I caught it visually. My wife was impressed.


Ed Cregger

I was told it was because of the non-sheeted LE. Four Stars make the same howl. Sounds great.

Guess I'll find out when I get my 4*60 airborne. BTW, the US40 has a sheeted LE.

Went flying again today even though it was pretty breezy - 15-20mph. Gaining a lot of confidence in the wind now - which is particularly useful since it's usually more windy than not here in the upper midwest - except when I want to go sailing...

I had the Hangar9 40 size stick back a few years ago and it made a distinct moan/howl in flight as well-this was caused by airflow over the circular cutouts in the wings sheeting for the mounting bolts. I am not that familiar with the newer versions posted here but they may be similar.

Mine is the USL120 and it howls and screams. I love it! Haven't found anyone who didn't so far. I like getting way up there and cutting the throttle and making a dive...man does that howl build up on it's way down. It is perfectly normal. My pals 60 size does the same thing but different pitch.

Kevin

The JU-87 Stukas had sirens on the wings. Perhaps I could locate those whistle devices like some pyrotechnics use.

Hey bud
US40 is a great craft. Had one in my hanger for as long as H9 has offered them. You bet they howl; thats just the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. Sure, they're ugly, but, so what! If you treat 'em right, they'll help you stay glad you took up the hobby. As far as I'm concerned, they should become a recommended trainer. No hassles, just preictable flight. We all know they won't do acrobatics very crisp or well, and knife edge is out of the question. And last, but not least, how can a fella beat $125.
Jerry

I think that people should fly a trainer to death, and then use an Ultra Stick as a second plane. I think that a fully-symmetrical wing, tail-dragger, with a four-servo wing, and no dihedral doesn't make a good first plane....however, I think that it should be your second plane (and a permanent member in your hangar).

Except for physically/mentally impaired student pilots, I would love to see the flat bottomed wing trainer go the way of the dinosaur and the Ultra Stick, Big Stik, RCM Trainer (the real ones, not the recently sold imposter) models return to their number one spot as king of the primary trainers. Flat bottomed winged models are more difficult to learn how to fly than models with fully symmetrical airfoiled wings that are set up by a knowledgable instructor.

Hey, we all have opinions and some of them are different. You are certainly entitled to your opinion and you have my respect for your choice.


Ed Cregger

I just think that an Ultra Stick is a bit too fast and too complicated for a trainer. I can see an Ultra Stick being a good trainer IF it's set-up with no flaps, a slow prop, and VERY low rates. However, I'm definitely glad that I learned to fly on a trike, high-wing, flat-bottom winged plane.

I can see the Ultra Stick being a primary trainer for people with a trainer on a buddy box and patience, and that have had a lot of sim time. I just don't think that they can achieve their 4th flight solo like I got. That might just be because my rates were ridiculously high and I had my engine REALLY turning up, but whatever. I did recommend an Ultra Stick to my cousin as his first plane (either a Stick or a Pulse).

Count me in as one who did fly a traditional flat bottom airfoiled trainer to death. I calculate I had nearly 200 flights on my LT-40 with no substantial crashes. One unintentional landing in the corn while on a long approach. Flying a trainer I could briefly take my hands off the sticks (and my eyes off the airplane while I figured out what my timer said or where the trim lever was).

My first few flights with the UltraStick were more than a little on the apprehensive side since I was also dealing with a new engine setup (never flew a 4-stroke before). Now that I have the US properly trimmed out and the Saito running like a fine watch it's a delight to fly. I have mine set up with flaps, crow and can switch to full span ailerons. I tried crow for the first time (at a sufficient altitude) tonight and it's not quite set up right. I'm changing to a longer horn on my wing servos to get the recommended deflection range.

Yes, you can use one as a trainer - IF you have a qualified instructor, the student has a basic knowledge of flight controls and the buddy box is not weaned too soon.