First low wing ?
 

1 Glider ,Several trainers and a Cub Under my belt. Plus many hrs. on a simulator.
Now setting up a U Can Do.
I have been told to try something else first.
WHAT SHOULD I DO ?

RE: First low wing ?
 

Goldberg Tiger II, Pulse XT, or Sig 4*

RE: First low wing ?
 

ES CONTROL- I find that I am very realistic and know what I am capable of. If I think I can handle something I try it and keep the flying simple. If you are confident that you have the ability -fly the UCANDO and don't get crazy. If you REALLY have doubts, don't fly it and go the other route. Overconfidence can get expensive and dangerous. Underconfidence can take all the fun away. So what I am trying to say is, What do you think?

What did you come up for the TX?-BW

RE: First low wing ?
 

While not technically a low wing, the SIG midstar is not modeled as often as the fourstar. But most people I know that have flown both prefer the midstar in handling.

RE: First low wing ?
 

I think I can do it.                But I am willing to listen and start on something else too.

RE: First low wing ?
 

I wouldn't recommend the U Can Do either. Not because of your ability to fly it, but rather because of the plane itself. The U Can Do's have a history of having tender landing gear and fuselage that don't stand up to rough landings at all. Unless you can "grease" in landings on your trainer I wouldn't recommend moving up quite yet. If you're still "arriving" instead of landing you may have problems with damaging the U Can Do. Trainers are designed to take rough landings like that.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: First low wing ?
 

Nothin wrong with having another plane in your hanger waiting for you. I got one almost two years old with only 1 flight on it. Myself I prefer the 'midwings". They seem to not care what up or down is.-BW

RE: First low wing ?
 

Hello
My first low winger was Tiger 2 . Great flying plane stable, loops,rolls,inverted, knife edge, and
a dream to land. Thats the one I'd go with!!

RE: First low wing ?
 

Will not disagree with any info given, just share my experience, first aileron was actually an elevon flying wing, The Slower Stryker B, not the faster C, loads of flight time with this slightly docile bird and gave the feel for the more responsive bird...

Next the Trojan survived number of flights, gentle low wing performer...

But most impressive beginner aileron was the Hanger 9 T34 Mentor, has additional droops and flaps proved easiest to land infact still my prized low wing aileron flyer, comes in slow like an airliner, refuses to drop a wing, by far the best plane flown no contest, but is bulsa, huge wheels takes grass field landings with ease, love this one ! A beginners dream !

BEST ..<>..

RE: First low wing ?
 

ES CONTROL

A rather tough way to learn you cannot yet handle the UCD is to fly it and bury it on the same day. That is not to say that will happen, but it's a fair assumption to say it.

The UCD is more of a 3D airframe and as such, is very light as compared to a Tiger II or Tiger 60 & 4 Star 40 or 60. Do what you wish, but experience states that the recommended and prudent thing to do is to stick with something that is not quite as "capable" or light as the UCD.

RE: First low wing ?
 

World models Mach II.
Great plane and gteat price.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: First low wing ?
 

Four Star!

RE: First low wing ?
 

I've been an Instructor for a few months now and still have a Funtana X50 (very similar to UCD) that sits in the garage and is awaiting my being ready for it. I fly an Escapade, and Extra 300 and a Super Skybolt and am still a little cautious about taking the Funtana out. The main reason is the landing gear discussed earlier. I can dial down the rates and up the Expo for flight but getting it very softly on the ground is my main concern.

RE: First low wing ?
 

I've never owned a U can do so i wont comment on it but the next step for you might be something like a stick plane. I had an ultrastick as my third plane and it was perfect for my level at that time. I still own one and fly it on a few occasions. Its aerobatic on high rates and forgiving on low rates.

RE: First low wing ?
 

My first low wing was the GP Escapade. I still enjoy flying that plane.
Red

RE: First low wing ?
 

Im with red. My first low wing was escapade. I had flown my friends tiger once prior. But after I was comfortable with my alpha 40 ( and by comfortable I mean pushing that plane to its aerobatic limit) I got the escapade. Its so much fun. It can be flown balls to the walls, or it can putter around the sky with ease if you can make yourself fly it calmly! lol. I cant stop doing spins and snaps when I put that thing in the air its too much fun!

RE: First low wing ?
 

Goldberg Tiger II. That thing makes you look better than you really are. Not bad for light wind landings unlike some 3D planes. One mod to do thou, add a 1/8" thick ply 3/4" deep, across the inside the fuselage on the bottom just behind the firewall to support the nose wheel bracket. Just in case the nose wheel finds a sudden stop:)

Word Model's T-34 Mentor. It lands hotter than the Tiger but it's a tough cookie.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Sig Four Star 60.
The 60 flys better than the 40 IMHO.

RE: First low wing ?
 

The Tiger II is a great choice, it will be your long-term beater plane. Will do aerobatics, although the rudder is a little small for knife edge, and it lands like a trainer. You won't be disappointed if you get one. Or the 60 sized either.

RE: First low wing ?
 

OK<div>One last thought , before giving up on the UCD</div><div>What I am hearing is landing is the main problem.</div><div>What if the landing gear was beefed up with 4 40 rods from firewall down to gear. +( plywood mount )</div><div>Larger tires.</div><div>Low rates used.</div><div>
</div>

RE: First low wing ?
 

Landing gear strength is one problem but not the only one.

The plane is overall built very lightly. This isn't a flaw, it is done on purpose for light wing loading and power to weight ratio needed for 3D aerobatics. It won't hold up as well to some of the things other sport planes will.

The plane also has some huge control surfaces. These make it respond extremely quick to control inputs and it is very maneuverable. You can tame the throws of course to minimize problems in that area. The huge surfaces also lend themselves to fluttering if the speed of the airplane gets too high. Throttle management is very important.

My personal opinion is that a good sport type plane is better for actually learning how to fly correctly. They fly more like airplanes. Planes like the U-Can-do are fun but they fly more like over-powered kites or balloons to me. I've owned U-Can-Do's, Twists, 3D profiles, etc. but I like more traditional sport type planes better. That's just my preference though.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Thank you, Chuck. Your right.<div>Sig4 star 60  ? </div><div>How about Ultra sport ? </div><div>
</div>

RE: First low wing ?
 

Beefing up the landing gear area, merely causes MORE DAMAGE to the fuselage to occur on a hard landing!

You need to work on the PILOT first, to assure that you do not land the U-Can-Do too hard.

As suggested start with something else.

Save the UCD for the future.

Don't fly it until you are more confortable repairing ARF's as well.

IMHO: Once you learn how to repair balsa and repair covering, you'll be ready!

By this point you'll have a few light crashes under your belt and can take care of dealing with mishaps should they occur.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Well, what engine(s) do you currently have? Unless you want to buy a new engine to go with the plane, that's how I would choose.

The Ultra Sport is more of an advanced high performance plane so I'd say hold off on that one until #3 or #4.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Your first low wing airplane should be your high wing trainer. Fly it upside down for extended periods, including turns. When you can do that, you are ready for a low wing airplane. Be sure to buy one with a constant chord wing for the first one.

RE: First low wing ?
 

In my opinion, the UCD is dead easy to fly and land. You won't have a problem.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Until the first breeze turns it to toothpicks in the hand of a novice.

RE: First low wing ?
 

The OP is not a novice; he's flown several trainers and a Cub. The UCD is a piece of cake.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Upside down   NO PROBLEM !!!!!!!!!

RE: First low wing ?
 

No he is a novice...

e.g. "1 Glider ,Several trainers and a Cub Under my belt."

A non-aileron foam Supercub, a foam glider and trainer planes means that this will be his first transition into tail draggers.


He'll be dealing with multiple issues at a time, making the UCD a VERY POOR and possibly SHORT LIVED choice.

Yes the UCD is incredible and it floats in so nicely, that it's easy to assume that it will be a piece of cake for anyone.

The first burst of wind for him on an approach will result in ripped out landing gear and punctured wings which the UCD is somewhat famous for.

RCKen went into great detail why it is a very POOR choice for him as have many others.

RE: First low wing ?
 

My Cub Has A 70" balsa wing with ailerons

RE: First low wing ?
 

Most people mean things like "Parkzone Super Cubs" when they say Cubs in the beginners forum... so...

How do you feel about your landings on the Super Cub?

What wind speed makes you feel like you should not fly your plane?

Do you feel like you do pretty well with crosswind landings?

RE: First low wing ?
 

I do not fly if wind is over 10 M.P.H.

RE: First low wing ?
 

If you look at his models he has a goldburg cub. But regardless I think he can probably handle the ucd but I would recommend him try something alittle more sporty. I still stand by the escapade. You can get that thing in the air all told under 300. The OS 46 AX is more than enough power for it, and I believe you can easy pay that engine on tower. My escapade can do almost anything I want it to do. Just not large enough control surfaces for true 3 d. You will really enjoy this model trust me its a blast to fly. Its just a fun one to own, I love to throw it around the sky then put my trainer back up for an easier flight session, then go back balls to the walls with the escapade.

RE: First low wing ?
 

So you're doing pretty well, but still think twice about even higher wind speeds, not that this is bad.

Tough call for me as someone sitting on the fence.

Your Cub is a bit more problematic on the ground than the UCD.

But as previosly stated, you need to grease the landings in on the UCD, which is suprisingly easy once you learn it's flight envelope.

It is one of those planes that you THINK it is flying too slowly, and you chop the throttle, and it is STILL flying after a good while!


Keep the rates low, fly it in low winds, etc. at first, and after you trim it out, spend ALL of your first flight learning how it stalls, and you may be just fine as Perreback said.

Were you transitioning off a PZ Supercub I'd immediately say no, your not ready, as I did, but now I'm backpeddeling.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Just a thought on the first low wing. Someone mentioned a midstar. I flew a Great Planes Easy Sport, my second plane. No problems. I built a Balsa USA Thunder Bug. Nice plane if you can still find one. Flew that one for close to 9 years. She bit the dust last summer. (Jury is out some say pilot error, some say a radio glitch). Either of those planes flew very well.

JAG

RE: First low wing ?
 

My first low wing was a Goldberg Super Chipmunk .60 kit. Thirteen years later I still fly it. It is a forgiving low wing and as you grow you can upgrade to a bigger motor and dual aileron servos to increase the throws. It is a easy kit to build as well.

RE: First low wing ?
 

Hangar 9 cherokee. Cheap, easy, it flies well on a .46 Mine is like a hangar w*#@re, I let anyone fly it, everyone likes it.
http://www.hangar-9.com/Products/Def...ProdID=HAN1900

RE: First low wing ?
 

Fly the UCD. If you can handle a Goldberg Cub, then you are ready. Just keep the rates down to where you feel comfortable. I have a Goldberg Cub and it is much harder to fly correctly than my Extra and Cap. Just be sure you have strong enough servos and good tight linkages because of the large surfaces. It will flutter and destroy itself with any transgression of sloppy setup or weak standard servos. I have seen it with my own eyes.

RE: First low wing ?
 

18 mos ago I got back into this hobby after a 15 year sabbatical. I flew the U Can Do as my 2nd airplane.

Set up dual-rates and make one setting mild