[JimMcIntyre]

The weather finally gave me a break last night.

I picked up an Ultrafly F16 at the Kitchener Scale Rally and have been assembling it in spare time since. I finished in time to fly last weekend but, the wind and rain has frustrated my efforts to get out with it ever since.

Well, last night it all came together. I rushed home from work, checking out treetops for signs of wind all the way. I got home, kissed the girls, loaded up the car and popped over to the Claremont club. No one there... normally I don't like to fly alone, simply for safety but, this is a small foam electric and I decided the risk was minimal. I popped in the battery, did a range test and double checked movement, I added 40% expo to the main rates and set up dual rates at 50% (this thing looks a little twitchy).

I walked onto the field looking for wind. This thing has no gear and, I would have preferred to hand launch into a good stiff breeze. Not to be had, the only light breeze was from the parking lot, straight into the evening sun.

Ok, everything looks good, another quick check of controls, power on, stiff toss.... man this things squirrelly!
Ok ... under control, building up speed, settling in nicely ... uh-oh getting a fair distance out, this things small and tough to orient, I better bring her around. Wow! The ailerons sure work. Wow! so does the elevator, let's get some altitude, push the nose up... Zooom! faster than I expected, I'm at the other end of the field. This is no GWS Tigermoth!

After a couple passes to get the trims right (I could fly this thing on trims) and I check out the stall characteristics. No problems there, sweet spin with rapid recovery, I didn't expect that.

A few rolls (very fast, very axial) and some tight loops (gonna have to reduce the throws when I land) and a good 10 minutes of flight with no sign of power loss (I love Li-Poly) and it's time to bring her in....

Ok, turning final at a decent height, bring back the power and keep the nose down ... good settling in nicely, time to begin the flare... what's this! She's climbing... ok too fast, bleed of the speed, nice long field, try to flare again..... climbing! Ok, forget it's a jet, start thinking glider ... that's better, man this thing slows down .... oh yeah, I did think it was pretty light... just didn't think I'd be landing an F16 at Tigermoth speeds. What an amazing flight envelope. Nice short skid on the belly pan and all is well. SWEET!

I couldn't wipe the grin from my face all the way home, when I pulled in the driveway, my wife didn't need to ask how it went, she could see I was happy.

Conclusion? The Ultrafly F16 is a great little flyer and will be a lot of fun. The assembly is a bit diffficult and the plans show very little about radio and motor/speed controller installation. I wouldn't recommend this plane to a beginner (but then the company doesn't either) as you need to make some minor mods to get it right, and a custom 12" battery extension was required to get power from the battery in the nose to the motor in the tail. Flying also is very responsive. I wouldn't want to fly this plane without expo or at least dual rates as the speed envelope requires very little movement at full throttle, and much greater throws in slow flight/landing/takeoff mode.

I can't believe I'm saying this but, this is an ARF I could like. :P

[gud-en-uff]

Hello Jim;
This is one of the best posts I've read on this forum.
Makes me want to go out and invest in the new and improved electric flight box.
cheers

[JimMcIntyre]

Thanks!

Do it, you won't regret. I'm hooked, I have several electrics now and am working on a 1/6 Se5 electric conversion for next year.

I miss the sound and smell, but sure don't miss the mess or need for fuel proofing.

[Dave Holmes]

This sounds really awesome, Jim. I'm gonna have to break down soon and get into electrics. Wish I could have seen that maiden flight. Sounds sooooo good!

And why, oh why do I keep on accumulating glow engines?

[JimMcIntyre]

I don't have a pic of mine yet but, it looks just like this;


Some video too; http://video1.hobbico.com/gallery/uf...090-deluxe.mpg

[Seafury]

So did you go for the standard or brushless powerplant? Greg

[JimMcIntyre]

I went stock, other than the Lipos, because I had everything to finish her that way. Pretty impressive stock setup ... when I wear out the can motor, I plan to upgrade to brushless.

[Seafury]

So its actually pretty cheap at $90. I'm gonna get me one. Maybe we should have a reviews thread. Thanks for the reply. Greg

[JimMcIntyre]

If you're going to get one, there's a long discussion on RCGroups about modifications and brushless setups.... good info.

[Derrick]

Originally Posted by JimMcIntyre

I got home, kissed the girls, loaded up the car and popped over to the Claremont club. No one there... normally I don't like to fly alone, simply for safety but, this is a small foam electric and I decided the risk was minimal.
.......
I can't believe I'm saying this but, this is an ARF I could like. :P

Cool, so you joined Claremont/Seaton?
I look forward to flying with you again....