RappyPilot

Hi

I have always wanted a Stik. Seems to be one of those planes with a rich history and there will always be a Stik at a field somehwre ... Went out and ended buying my first Stik, a Great PLanes Big Stik 40.

I have read a lot of articles where the Stik originated from, seen articles from magazines from the 1960's etc.

The question is, is a Stik based on a Fokker Eindecker?

TFF

No, it just happened, but I think what kept it up was it was used in a lot of mock dogfights with one painted red and the other as a "good" guy. The old Jensen plans had both sides represented. I think after the first couple of prototypes, they wanted to snaz it up as it was to be a fast build no frills plane.

8178

My Feedback: (17)

It was designed as a test platform for Kraft radios in the 60.

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

And as mentioned, still one of the best sport planes ever designed and kitted. I have 2 that I fly today and the plan's to cut out more if I need to. Good Luck, Dave

RappyPilot

Hi.

Someone somewhere here on RCU posted a very nice thread with a .pdf file from a few pages from an RC Mag from 1966 I think it was explaining how the Stik came about, Jensen's plans and the whole story about Kraft using it as a cheap plane to test their radio's.

A flying friend of mine elaborated by saying that it's based on the Fokker Eindekker. Looking at pictures of an Eindekker you will see that a Stik look as if has been "modeled"after an Eindekker, but I can't find any concrete proof that whoever slapped the first Stik together decided to base it on an Eindekker ...

jetmech05

I remember when I was in "A" school at Memphis in 74 a friend of mine was into RC...he cartwheeled a stick down the runway...too low doing rolls

TFF

May June'66 Grid Leaks http://www.gridleaks.roguebay.com/index.html
Painfully slow down load.

kdc

The 1985 articles on Das Ugly Stik are avail at http://www.rcmmagazine.com/issues/re...051985-1-1.pdf

The www.RCMMagazine.com site has a lot of online stuff avail. Look for -Requested articles( at the top of page) then - Construction- then Das Ugly Stik etc.

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

Here's the history as I understand and recall. The original plane was designed by Phil Kraft to test his radios.

At the time there was a popular expression being used around the country that went, "It looks like it got hit by an ugly stick." I don't recall where the expression came from, but it was popular. The ugly stick expression was used on Phil's airplane and the name stuck.

At a later date, Jensen got permission to kit the Ugly Stick. These were excellent kits, great balsa with parts band sawed out.

Later on Midwest came out with a smaller version and called it Das Little Stick. After this they brought out the Sweet Stick in 40 size. The Sweet Stick was a great airplane in its original form, good balsa sides and 48", full span spruce spars and a flat wing. You could hang a 60 on it and really tear up the skies. By this time, the term "Stick" was taken to mean any simple, box fuselage, shoulder wing plane. Usually it had a symmetrical airfoil.

Bud Nosen was the first to use the name "Big Stick," for his 101" span giant. Great Planes picked up the name later. Since then, there must have been a couple of dozen planes using the Stick or Stik surname with any number of first names.

TFF

When I was a kid I heard that it was made to win a bet that a plane could be designed an flown in one week and the Grid Leaks article does state that it was a Sunday to Thursday build, you have to remember too that it had to be silked and doped. I think it was a surprise that it turned out as well as it did.

RappyPilot

Hi

Thanks KDC fopr that awsome article. On page 59 there is a reference to an Eindekker

That sort of answer my question.

Thanks

SQUIZZY

Hi I am interested in hearing how your big stick 40 performs, as i have purchased and am building the same model and would like to know what you think of this Geat Planes version.

kd5boc

Well, I traded my Nexstar trainer for one yesterday. Went through about 1/2 gallon of fuel since i bought it. It flies straight, level...no tendencies to roll or yaw. With the tuned pipe that was on it, it had unlimited vertical. Since I put the stock muffler back on it, it did lose a bit of power, but can still go straight up for quite a while.

I LOVE this plane!

dignlivn

I love mine !

Bob

Sir Crashalot

Maybe this is the real “UglyStick�!!!

RappyPilot

Well. My Stik is finished. Was raining all weekend so I decided to take my time building it and doing it properly.

Going to maiden this coming weekend. Can't wait to fly her :-)

Dig the weels on your Stik Bob he he he.

mscic-RCU

My Feedback: (6)

I think at one time I had all the sticks - sweet stick, sweet-n-low stick, bipe stick, twin stick. all great flyers. the expression at the time was "real pilots have round rudders or real pilots drag their butts!"

RappyPilot

Ha ha ha, that is funy

jship

My Feedback: (4)

Here's My little stik
john

Kelsey_B

I have always liked the Stik, and would like to see GP bring it back as a kit. We are using this one as a trainer.

RappyPilot

Nice of all of you to post pictures of your Stiks. Keep them coming, will post some of mine after (before) her maiden this weekend.

I have been pondering on the idea of building one from scratch from Jensen's plans. Sizing it up a bit and putting my G20 in there. But that's for another day.

RappyPilot

Here is my Stik. Can't fait to fly her tomorrow :-)

dignlivn

Rappy,

Looks good, Good Luck tomorrow!!
Let us know how it goes.

Bob

RappyPilot

WOW!!!! What an awsome plane!!

My Stik after her maiden flight.

This little plane lived up to all my expactations. What a great plane to fly. Only needed 2 clicks of right aileron and she was flying hands off. Had so much fun fluying her I ran out of fuel on the first flight and dead sticked her in. But no surprises, glided in for a near perfect landing.

Basic aerobatics are awsome, predictable and does exactly what you ask, does not knife edge to well ... But that might be because she was a tad nose heavy or it might be the fact that I have never flown a high wing plane before.

But I went home after 8 flights that evening with a fat smile on my face :-)

dignlivn

Rappy

I bet your still smiling, glad to hear
all went well.

Bob