Maj. Woody's Ultra Flash
06-23-2017, 06:05 PM
#427
My Feedback: (18)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New City, NY
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The memory ain't what it used to be. I think when I set up the plane I set up dual rates and my low rate is less than the recommended single rate that is given in the manual. Probably about 20% off of the recommended rate. So that is what I mean by low rate. The recommended rate was too sensitive for me even with expo. It might be perfect for you but it's always good to have "on the fly" options for a maiden and then remove them once you have it dialed in.
06-25-2017, 03:21 PM
#434
Thanks Guys!
So I logged three flights in a 15 plus knot cross wind.
First Flight: The jet tracked like an arrow down the runway and built speed fast thanks to my New Cheetah SE. Once I rotated I could not believe how fast she was accelerating. Much quicker than any Scale Jet I had flown. It felt solid so shortly after lift off I decided to test the roll rate. As Mark warned it was dizzying. I took everyone's advice and programed dual rates for the maiden. I quickly switched to low rate and made my first turn. Then another first for me, I pulled it back to half throttle! Even at this setting we believe she is cruising well above 150. I felt like I was running out of elevator in the turns so I slowed up a bit more. Ailerons were right on with no trim needed but I needed 1mm up trim. I am guessing the sluggish elevator and up trim was due to being balanced at 220mm.Still it felt solid so on the next circuit I pushed up the power for a low pass. All I can say is it was low and Hot! From there I pulled up into the vertical and experienced a rate of climb that no jet I have owned ever came close to. I rolled her over and headed back down. Time to test the flap mix. First notch is 15 degrees with 1.5mm down elevator. Perfect with no noticeable pitch or roll! Now landing flap of 3" with 5mm down elevator. Perfect again, no wing rock and the nose just below the horizon. Nice and predictable. I have the flaps set for slow deployment and retraction by the way. Next pass was a gear pass and then on to the down wind. I eased the power just before turning base and made a constant base to final turn maintaining a slightly nose down attitude. Rolling out on final I leveled out and let her glide down the groove. The cross wind was not helping to slow the jet so she floated on down before settling on the mains. I applied the brakes and it was if I was on ice with the jet sliding around. Guess I will take advantage of the proportional properties of the UP6 on the next landing. I kept the flight short, about 4.5 min since I was not sure about the time I would get with that thirsty Cheetah. Well I was surprised to find I had just used the saddle and the main tank was still full!
At this point I measured my control throws and set the main rates to these measurements with a bit more aileron removed and some elevator added. I then disabled the dual rate functionality. I did not use Expo on the maiden so there was no work to do there.I was back to normal meaning one rate and zero expo. I also added a bit more landing flap.
The second take off was just as exhilarating as the first with a nice series of rolls on take off. Ahh the ailerons are approaching perfect for my taste. I pushed up the timer another 30 second for this flight. Ok let see how she handles. 4 point rolls were crisp and smooth, slow rolls were a sight to behold with the jet seemingly on a rail. On one pass I slowed the roll so much that I though the jet would be out of sight before making it a full 360 degrees. Another low pass and into the vertical with rolls on the way up. Yuk! This thing is wobbling like crazy. Knife edge passes were next with no noticeable roll coupling. Just a slight amount of rudder needed at these speeds. I don't have any mixes in place with the rudder. Gear pass and another smooth landing. I think the extra flap helped but don't feel I am close to how slow the jet will land. Again the cross wind was not helping a bit and I could not forget about the guy in Daves thread who snapped his Ultra Flash on final. This time I eased in the brakes and slowed to a stop straight ahead with no skidding. Too late though cause that first episode shredded a lot of life from my new tires! Ok fuel check...I cant believe it I am into the main tank but just barely!
Ok At this point the only thing I was not happy with was that wobble during the vertical rolls. I put in some more differential but it turns out that I went the wrong way having added more up travel than down. More on that in a moment.
Third flight: Man its getting windy. Oh well off we go. This flight I did more of the same maneuvers as the previous two flights but added a huge loop. Ok what I really want to know is how will the vertical rolls look. Well strangely they were better with the increased up travel but still ugly. Time for landing. Man its windy! She's floating a bit and landing long. I touched down with too much speed and the flash bounced back in the air. Full power for a moment as she settle back. I got lucky as there was not another bounce. I was fearing PIO but got away without one. This was a testament to how strong this airframe is as I did not have any damage and even managed to avoid any scrapes. Not a scratch. Oh well chalk that one up to pilot error. Fuel check: at 6 minutes and only about 1/4 of the way into the main tank. I am guessing I will end up with the timer at 6.5 min with enough fuel for a couple go arounds. We will have to see though because When the jet is finally dialed in I may be pushing it harder and that will burn more fuel.
Today I went over the entire jet and was happy to see everything as it should be. I made some more control adjustments having reached out to you guys about the differential in Dave's thread. I measured my travels and kept them but just reversed them so I have 1/16" more travel down than up. What a coincidence that that is exactly what Dave had recommended in his response. I have three things I still need to evaluate over time and in more favorable conditions....Aileron differential to get rid of that wobble, Max flap: I may continue to add more, I am at about 3.25" right now, and the CG. I would like to move it back but to add tail weight I would need to rip everything out so that is going to have to wait.
Well she is all set for the next outing. I am on vacation starting Friday so with any luck I can get about 20 flights in before Art's meet.
So I logged three flights in a 15 plus knot cross wind.
First Flight: The jet tracked like an arrow down the runway and built speed fast thanks to my New Cheetah SE. Once I rotated I could not believe how fast she was accelerating. Much quicker than any Scale Jet I had flown. It felt solid so shortly after lift off I decided to test the roll rate. As Mark warned it was dizzying. I took everyone's advice and programed dual rates for the maiden. I quickly switched to low rate and made my first turn. Then another first for me, I pulled it back to half throttle! Even at this setting we believe she is cruising well above 150. I felt like I was running out of elevator in the turns so I slowed up a bit more. Ailerons were right on with no trim needed but I needed 1mm up trim. I am guessing the sluggish elevator and up trim was due to being balanced at 220mm.Still it felt solid so on the next circuit I pushed up the power for a low pass. All I can say is it was low and Hot! From there I pulled up into the vertical and experienced a rate of climb that no jet I have owned ever came close to. I rolled her over and headed back down. Time to test the flap mix. First notch is 15 degrees with 1.5mm down elevator. Perfect with no noticeable pitch or roll! Now landing flap of 3" with 5mm down elevator. Perfect again, no wing rock and the nose just below the horizon. Nice and predictable. I have the flaps set for slow deployment and retraction by the way. Next pass was a gear pass and then on to the down wind. I eased the power just before turning base and made a constant base to final turn maintaining a slightly nose down attitude. Rolling out on final I leveled out and let her glide down the groove. The cross wind was not helping to slow the jet so she floated on down before settling on the mains. I applied the brakes and it was if I was on ice with the jet sliding around. Guess I will take advantage of the proportional properties of the UP6 on the next landing. I kept the flight short, about 4.5 min since I was not sure about the time I would get with that thirsty Cheetah. Well I was surprised to find I had just used the saddle and the main tank was still full!
At this point I measured my control throws and set the main rates to these measurements with a bit more aileron removed and some elevator added. I then disabled the dual rate functionality. I did not use Expo on the maiden so there was no work to do there.I was back to normal meaning one rate and zero expo. I also added a bit more landing flap.
The second take off was just as exhilarating as the first with a nice series of rolls on take off. Ahh the ailerons are approaching perfect for my taste. I pushed up the timer another 30 second for this flight. Ok let see how she handles. 4 point rolls were crisp and smooth, slow rolls were a sight to behold with the jet seemingly on a rail. On one pass I slowed the roll so much that I though the jet would be out of sight before making it a full 360 degrees. Another low pass and into the vertical with rolls on the way up. Yuk! This thing is wobbling like crazy. Knife edge passes were next with no noticeable roll coupling. Just a slight amount of rudder needed at these speeds. I don't have any mixes in place with the rudder. Gear pass and another smooth landing. I think the extra flap helped but don't feel I am close to how slow the jet will land. Again the cross wind was not helping a bit and I could not forget about the guy in Daves thread who snapped his Ultra Flash on final. This time I eased in the brakes and slowed to a stop straight ahead with no skidding. Too late though cause that first episode shredded a lot of life from my new tires! Ok fuel check...I cant believe it I am into the main tank but just barely!
Ok At this point the only thing I was not happy with was that wobble during the vertical rolls. I put in some more differential but it turns out that I went the wrong way having added more up travel than down. More on that in a moment.
Third flight: Man its getting windy. Oh well off we go. This flight I did more of the same maneuvers as the previous two flights but added a huge loop. Ok what I really want to know is how will the vertical rolls look. Well strangely they were better with the increased up travel but still ugly. Time for landing. Man its windy! She's floating a bit and landing long. I touched down with too much speed and the flash bounced back in the air. Full power for a moment as she settle back. I got lucky as there was not another bounce. I was fearing PIO but got away without one. This was a testament to how strong this airframe is as I did not have any damage and even managed to avoid any scrapes. Not a scratch. Oh well chalk that one up to pilot error. Fuel check: at 6 minutes and only about 1/4 of the way into the main tank. I am guessing I will end up with the timer at 6.5 min with enough fuel for a couple go arounds. We will have to see though because When the jet is finally dialed in I may be pushing it harder and that will burn more fuel.
Today I went over the entire jet and was happy to see everything as it should be. I made some more control adjustments having reached out to you guys about the differential in Dave's thread. I measured my travels and kept them but just reversed them so I have 1/16" more travel down than up. What a coincidence that that is exactly what Dave had recommended in his response. I have three things I still need to evaluate over time and in more favorable conditions....Aileron differential to get rid of that wobble, Max flap: I may continue to add more, I am at about 3.25" right now, and the CG. I would like to move it back but to add tail weight I would need to rip everything out so that is going to have to wait.
Well she is all set for the next outing. I am on vacation starting Friday so with any luck I can get about 20 flights in before Art's meet.
Last edited by MaJ. Woody; 06-25-2017 at 03:31 PM.
06-25-2017, 05:07 PM
#436
Here is where I am for now but it will most likely continue to evolve.
Ailerons: 3/8 up 7/16 down
Elevator: 11/16 up and down
Take Off Flap: 15 degrees and 1.5mm down elevator
Landing Flap: 3 1/4 and 5mm down elevator
Keep in mind that I don't use any expo and that I am balanced at 220mm. If I add tail weight I would suspect I could remove some elevator throw. The jury is still out on this. I need a dozen landings into a headwind to know where I stand.
Ailerons: 3/8 up 7/16 down
Elevator: 11/16 up and down
Take Off Flap: 15 degrees and 1.5mm down elevator
Landing Flap: 3 1/4 and 5mm down elevator
Keep in mind that I don't use any expo and that I am balanced at 220mm. If I add tail weight I would suspect I could remove some elevator throw. The jury is still out on this. I need a dozen landings into a headwind to know where I stand.
06-26-2017, 02:06 AM
#439
At 3 1/4 " I am at about 82mm of flap. I think for the 4th flight, I am going to try 95mm and see if I can get rid of that floating. I must say that the residual thrust on the Cheetah is not helping. It will roll on a level surface just idling.
06-26-2017, 03:55 PM
#441
Its like 34-35K and about a pound of thrust at idle. I have 3 3/4" landing flap now (95mm) so it should really help slow her down compared to the 3" I started with. I had 3 1/4 on he last flight. And yes I did make a long shallow approach. That has always typically been my landing style.
06-26-2017, 04:58 PM
#442
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Lumberton,
TX
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok well mines up there in the 90+mm on flaps and it works great. I also have the front gear door that folds down with the nose gear and that has a little air brake effect too. I think my Rhino KS idles around 33-34k. With no head wind I can cut the throttle to idle about 100- 150 before the runway and it'll just slowly desend down increasing the pitch more and more on flare.
06-27-2017, 02:29 AM
#443
That sounds about right. I remember with my FeiBao Panther I needed to go to idle before turning base and it would like through the downwind to base and base to final turn. This feels very similar to that. A lot different than and F-4 or F-18 which I am used to.
06-29-2017, 04:48 PM
#446
Thanks for the great thread Dom.
The Ultra flash has been covered here on RCU many times, but your take on it has been an absolute pleasure to read.. lots of good tips and methods covered here, which are well explained and photographed.
Thanks for taking the time.
There is hope for RCU yet!!
The Ultra flash has been covered here on RCU many times, but your take on it has been an absolute pleasure to read.. lots of good tips and methods covered here, which are well explained and photographed.
Thanks for taking the time.
There is hope for RCU yet!!
06-29-2017, 05:38 PM
#447
Thanks so much for the kind words. Knowing that people enjoy the build threads serves as my inspiration. I am Getting ready to order my next kit and am undecided on whether to do a build thread or not. I am close to pulling the trigger on a 1:7.5 Skymaster F-4C. Stuck on the color scheme right now but leaning towards VF-51.
06-30-2017, 01:27 AM
#449
Thanks Chris! Vacation starts today so.I am hoping to get lots of flying in. The weather may have other ideas however. If we cant fly the Cessna to Frankfort Highland this weekend, maybe we can next weekend. I would like to see the site again before the Jet Rally. I remember it being nice.