The Ultra Stick Lite  (May 25)

Is ready!

Power is a Zenoah G20 ei

The Stick has flown and flies well. 
The G20 is a good match for this plane
for sport flying giving it good vertical
performance for large loops and vertical
rolls.
Balance was perfect with the electronic
ignition and a 1800 mah three cell nicad
pack located forward where the fuel tank
normaly sits and the fuel tank positioned in
the wing cavity.  The electronic ignition is
noted to be a power hog but others have
discovered that it does better on three rather
 than four cells.  The 3 cell pack is reasonable
on weight and yields an hour run time... enough
for my usual three flights for an afternoon and
of course can be quick charged for additional flights.

It was a bit windy during maiden day flights...
and hopes for a windy day flyer seem obtained. 

The second day was very cloudy but little wind and the USL continued to show its fun side.  It will do almost unlimited vertical... just drop the nose a few degree and it keeps climbing.  Crow mode allows very slow landings even with no wind.   A vertical eight was no sweat.  What is a sweat is keeping orientation with the clear covering... maybe it was the cloudy skies... we'll see... maybe some bright decals are needed. 

I really like this plane!  Floyd has commented in the past that the Hanger 9 PT-19 is likely my best flying plane and now suggest it may become a rare sight at the field.  I gotta agree to the idea that this plane may become the most often flown... in part because it is fun but also because it is so economical.

My high about this plane is due to the combination of air frame and engine.  The G-20 in my opinion is destined to become a popular RC engine unless Saito releases the gas four stroke that is rumored.  

The engine

• runs smooth with very little vibration
• starts easy by hand propping
• is very stingy on fuel
• offers reasonable power to weight ratio
• idles very low
• has great transitions
• allows the fuel tank to be located at balance point
• is quiet
• deposits only a few small oil drops on the plane
  

The Plane

• can do most aerobatics including a vertical eight with large loops
• has good vertical
• can tear up the sky like a sport plane or put around like a cub
  
• can land at crawl speed
• can do short takeoffs
• is lightly loaded
• can knife edge climb

A quirk was discovered today.  When crow is popped during a vertical dive (at idle throttle) the motor kills.  My first thought was deceleration forces fuel away from the pickup clunk.  While that is probably true, more thought suggest there should be adequate fuel in the line to run longer whereas the motor kills fairly quickly after deceleration takes place.  Because the motor requires choking to restart, one theory could be that the deceleration affects the fuel pump within the carb.  Perhaps either the deceleration momentum of the diaphragm or the wet fuel behind it or both overcome the crankcase pulse of the idled motor and the motor is quickly starved of fuel.  Not known is if increasing to a fast idle will alleviate the stalls.  Greater rpms go against the intent to allow the drag of crow mode to slow decent.

Enjoying the Ultra Stick Lite (June 10)

I've flown it exclusively for two weeks now and find it a very fun plane to fly.  One can either fly fairly nice aerobatics or slow to a crawl using "crow mode".  Crow also allows very slow nose up with full elevator flying (harrier) at only a slight bit of throttle with little concern for stall. 

Switching mixes in allows quick rolls and tight loops.

BTW... The problem with the  dying turned out to be simply a bit too rich on low end. 

The enjoyment of the Zenoah G-20 ei continues... a great motor and good match for the USL.