I was able to get the maiden flight (+7 ) out of the way this morning on my latest addition. I must say I am very impressed with this kit. When I first opened the box and saw all of the laser cut wood, I thought that it was pretty nice looking. As I went through the build process I became more and more impressed by the way everything fit .... and I mean everything. I don't remember exactly what I gave for this kit at the LHS, but I am sure it was around $75 which I thought was a bargin to begin with. I made a few changes during the build to make it look like a Waco but none of these were very extensive and may have added 3 ounces of weight to the total. I also checked engine thrust line as well as both wing's incidence with a GP Accupoint Laser system. Would you believe that everything was within 1/4 of a degree?? This thing flies like a dream too. I have never had a plane before that did not require some trim adjustments on its maiden flight. I would HIGHLY recommend this kit to anybody that wants a bipe to play around with.

Details:
kit - SIG Ultimate Fun Fly Profile (altered)
engine - OS 50SX
prop - APC 12.25x3.75
fuel - Cool Power 15%
servos - JR 537 all the way around

I moved the elevator and rudder servos to the rear of the fuse to offset the weight difference in my engine choice. With everything mounted/positioned as per the plans, the plane balances a tad (1/4 inch) on the tail heavy side of the recommendation.

Total weight is 5 lbs 7 ozs which might be a little heavy for a fun fly but the ol' 50sx pulls it around pretty good .

A few more pics

Nice job on the mods. Glad to hear it flys good. From what I've seen, they land a little heavy. Does yours also?

Steve

Thanks a bunch.

I had heard that too ... but this thing will do a high alpha pass at 3 clicks over idle. I don't know if it is because of the "Waco wingtips" that I added or what but it will literally float with ease. One thing I did notice though, that floating gives you a false sense of stability. It goes from floating with no "mushiness" to a dead stall with no warning. Luckily I was high enough to handle it when I tested this. There was abosultely no breeze when I was flying yesterday so I am expecting this thing to fly backwards in the normal 10-15mph winds around here.

Oh, and I have flaperons programmed but never did try them. Maybe I will get to try them tomorrow.

Dude!!! Real Sweet and really nice clean looking lines. Kudos! Mine was like that, lull you into a little floating and then WHAM! STALL....of course mine stalled when the engine quit..heh heh. Fortunately I was high enough to get the nose down and build up a little speed. Again Very nice...very original.

An Ultimate with a Waco paint job...purely awesome.........
I like the mods man, very nice and expertly done
Let's see some tail touching pics!
--Flying .46

[:@] Since this is my first plane that might be capable, I am afraid you would only get pictures of a pile of balsa ... maybe in a few months .

I just purchased one of these used from a local hobby shop with an OS .46 FX in it and Hi-tec servoes/receiver (seems like I got a good deal at $165). It's all orange and my first biplane/glow (flown plenty of friend's glow planes mine are electric). Seeing all the great comments on this plane I can't wait to get out and fly it.

Anyone know of a video posted of one of these flying?

That is pure beauty. I love what you did with the plane. I'd like to do something similar, but shoot for the Christensen Eagle look.

Awesome job!

Great looking Ultimate. I wish I had thought of that styling. I'm just not that creative. I LOVE my Ultimate. It has a GMS .47 and will do anything I'm big enough to try. I made the mistake of putting the servos in the wing according to the instructions, and the elevator servo popped loose in the middle of a loop (not very high, either). Good news is it managed to mush out just as it arrived in a DEEP patch of weeds & grass. Broke dowel out of the bottom wing, and popped the wing struts. A couple of new struts, and a minor rebuild of the lower wing leading edge and it was ready to go again. (Elevator servo firmly epoxyed into a solid mount)

That's me in the cockpit with my "Bob Hoover" straw hat. I figure this is the only way I'll ever get to fly an Ultimate.

Fly the wings off of it!

I think you got a great deal Bill. I am sure you will enjoy this plane. From what I have seen so far, you can slow it down and fly the pattern or flip to high rates and try to sling parts off of it.

Thanks a bunch for the compliment. My original plan was to do a Christen Eagle but one of the guys I fly with had purchased the same kit and said he was going to go for the CE look. I decided to go Waco so there wouldn't be duplicates at the field.

I was wondering how strong that configuration would be. I may have gone overboard on mine but I even went with carbon fiber control rods on the rudder and elevator.
I was thinking of getting my daughter to take a profile digital pic of me with my cap on backwards and use that as a pilot. Maybe I can get her off of the phone long enough to do that for me someday.

I finally got my "pilot" installed I think it makes the plane fly better now.