UltraFly BAE Hawk Jet review & discussion

[admin]

See the review by Mike Parson's on the Ultrafly BAE Hawk Ducted Fan Jet. Video of the Hawk in action included. Discuss the airplane and setup in this thread.

Click here to read review. (http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=553)

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/reviews/553/thumbs/inflight6.jpg

[Watts up]

i think its a pusher actually;)

[Crash Test Dummy]

It is a pusher. I just got one yesterday. What a sweet plane. I can't wait to build her. I'm going to put a 2815-3000 Himax inrunner in her. I'm going to run a 3S pack with a 5X3 and or a 5.5X4.5 prop. It should wake the dead. 3/4 oz. glass will be applied to make her tuff. i started to sand the bumps off the foam tonight. I also filled in the round mold marks on the wing and vert stab with light spackle.

<<<<<<UPDATE>>>>>>

Got her all sanded tonight and i put some glass on the Vert stab, but thats about it for tonight. Need my beauty rest, LOL.

CTD

[Crash Test Dummy]

I got almost the entire plane glassed. All that is left to do is the top of the main wing and the bottom of the rear tail feathers. Other than that is ready for assembly.

CTD

[Bmiller]

Nicely done review!
Still have the unbuilt kit! Seen Bob fly his with a littlescreamer outrunner and 3S TP1320s. Awesome performance envelope!
High speed(70-80) plus it's so light it can slow to a crawl. He launches his underhand at 1/2 throttle and it justs floats on then takes off when he throttles up! Thats the setup I'll be using when the motors become available from Hobby-Lobby in October.
I really like and have all the Ultrafly pushers.
Bruce

[Crash Test Dummy]

Hey Boyz,

I got my Bae Hawk all together yesterday. It required quite a bit of nose weight due to the heavy motor in the back. I'll be looking forward to putting a LSPJ or Equally lighter motor on mine later on. It came out 17oz. all up less the battery. The 3S pack will add about 5 to 6 oz. more to her. I'm sure it will come in hot, but thats ok. I'm use to landing fast jets, my UF F-16 came in pretty fast at 1st, but after I got use to it I was able to get it to slow down pretty well. The UF F-16 was about the same weight as the Hawk. It had a 3S 2100 pack and a slightly tamer 2815-2000KV Himax on a 6X5.5 prop. I expect this set up to be really really fast with the 2815-3000KV motor on a 5.5X4.5 prop.

It pulled 32 Amps @340 watts on my watt meter last. Yee Haaw!! One year ago I ran this set up on a Glassed Stryker, I didn't have a scale to weight it but it was a ton heaver than the Hawk [it also had about a 37 inch WS] and it was really fast.

My battery blocked the vent hole in the nose so I hogged it out some more, now air can flow through. I also opened up the intakes on the side of the fuse for some additional air flow. I put 2 Pisces of some old control rods through the fuse at the front and rear of the canopy so I can use 2 rubber bands across the canopy to hold it in place. At the speeds I'll be flying her at I didn't think I could trust the magnets on their own. I also didn't use the stock hold down set up for the main wing. I put 2 CF rods through the fuse so I will hold the wing on with rubber bands. I have done this mod on all my GWS birds and I like it much better. If I happen to dumb thumb her in, the wing and saddle wont break, it just pops out.

I worked on it until 2AM, I guess that was why I was an hour late getting to the office this morning, oops!! No biggie. I applied the stickers to the vert stab and the wing tips. I may remove the wing tip stickers and look for a matching red paint for the wingtips and the nose. They stick ok, but I'm sure they will start to come off after a few flights a close to 100 MPH speed runs. I'll have to ask the LHS owner to borrow his buddy's radar gun so I can post some real numbers for you guyz!!

I hope to maiden her tomorrow morning. It was raining this AM, dratz!!

Oh, I forgot to mention.....I also added a rudder on mine!! I couldn't resist after seeing the videos of the turbine hawks doing those knife edge passed. I hope it has enough rudder surface. Plus I prefer being able to coordinated turns rather than just yank and bank. I mounted a servo in the top of the wing with a direct link to the rudder. Man, I cant wait to fly this thing.

Check out these Hawks!!!

http://www.skygate-collection.de/uploads/media/sc-hawk_04.mpg

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544529

CTD
http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/statusicon/user_online.gif http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/buttons/privatemsg.gif (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&userid=39087) http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/buttons/find.gif (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/search.php?do=finduser&userid=39087)

[Bmiller]

Good luck! Enjoy!

[Crash Test Dummy]

Thanks Bruce. I should have a flight report, videos, and top speed reports in the next couple of days. That is if the weather clears up around here.

[tommytorino]

Watch the roll on take-off!! I have a buddy flying one with an AXI 2212-20 and it's MEAN to hand launch.

Good Luck

Tommy D

[Crash Test Dummy]

Thanks Tommy,

I'll besure to give it a good toss at about 2/3rds throttle. I had a UF F-16 which launched about how I'd guess this plane launches.

<<<<<<UPDATE>>>>>>

Glamour shots are here!! I have always liked the Matt Chapman Cap 580 paint job, so I thought a B&W Target might stand out at a distance.
I added a rudder, you can see the servo and linkage in the pictures. You can see the rubberband hold down for the canopy too. I don't want it blowing off on WTO passes.:D I still need to paint the nose, I refuse to use the nose stickers that comes with the kit.

CTD

[Bmiller]

You and your bulls eyes!LOL
Looks good!

Bruce

[Crash Test Dummy]

<<<<<<MAIDEN FLIGHT REPORT>>>>>>

There was only about a 5 MPH this AM. I tossed her and she took off with a little torque action but not muck to speak of. I did have to make a bit of an aileron trim adjustment on my transmitter so that might have added to the torque effect. This plane torqued much less than my UF F-16, as I expected.

When it left my hand it started to climb very quickly. Actually too fast, I was having a lot of trouble getting the elevator trimmed out. However I got her to fly smoothly enough for a maiden trimming session. http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif It rolls very nice with just a wisper of elevator as she rolls to inverted and then back up to level. The elevator on the other hand..........that was another story http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif . Something didn't feel quite rite, it was like Yoda was wispering in my ear, Hummmm, Something right is not! LOL!! I couldn't get the elevator to trim nicley, I think it is a bit nose heavy. I'm going to remove some nose weight and see how it feels.

I took the Hawk up to about 75 ft or so to see how slow I could go. I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't take her all the way to the point of stall, heeding Yoda warning that there was a tremmer in the force. I thought it slowed down very well, even for my heavy set up. I just didn't like the feel of the elevator. Yoda was right, more later. BTW, I'll have more on how the rudder works after another flight or two. I was way too busy to mess with the rudder.

I brought her around for an approach and slowed her down. This plane lands WAY slower than my F-16. Very nice. After I got the plane back in the pitts I started to go into my travel and sub trim programing and the elevator stopped responding!! http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif It was dead. All the other servos were working fine. Thank God it failed then and not in the air! I went home and put in a new servo. I'm going to get another flight in sometime today, if I'm lucky someone else will be at the field to shoot some video for me.

I think I'm going to like this plane quite a bit, after we get to know each other better http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif . I'm painting the red on the nose rather than using the provided stickers. One coat is on and drying as I type.

CTD

[Bmiller]

You lucky dog!;)
Congrats!

[Crash Test Dummy]

Yea, I really dodged a bullet on that one.:p I can't wait to get her up in the air again.:D It is going to be a sweet flyer, I can tell from the videos other guys have posted. Very smooooooth!!:cool:

CTD

[Crash Test Dummy]

I got 2 flights in on the Hawk today. I still think ithe CG needs to be moved back. It is very fast with the 3000 KV Himax on the back, however I think a motor with a bigger prop will be better. It is harder to launch than my F-16. At 1st I didn't think it was any harder to launch with the smaller prop, but it indeed is harder to launch.

CTD

[gwong]

Mine didn't hand launch that well...probably the pilot had to get used to it but after many attempts and repairs...I got frustated and trashed her...RIP....in comparison my friend bought the new brushless striker and hand launches are very very easy.

Gord.

[Bmiller]

Sorry to hear that Gord.
The only UF Hawk I've seen fly is Rvincents littlescreamer powered hawk.
(22gm outrunner, 6x5.5prop, 3S TP-1320s, 12-14ozAUW)
The very lightweight setup made for extremely easy underhand launches at 1/2 throttle.
I've yet to build mine but I'll be going the light AUW setup route after seeing how well his performed.

21 flights CTD? jeeezus!;)LOL
Bruce

[Crash Test Dummy]

Ha Ha HA, that was a typo, I didn't catch it. LMAO! I'll go back and fix it.

CTD

[Bmiller]

I was serious!
I thought it was a record or something!:)

[Crash Test Dummy]

I do fly almost 365 days a year weather premitting. Most days i get out to fly 2X once in the early morning and afternoon of evening. 2 to 3 flights each time. Gosh i love this hobby. My new formosa is flying great here is a link to a vodeo. Check em out.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jiW0mNczsBc
This one was shot this afternoon.
http://media.putfile.com/Mosa-Video-Al-Shot

CTD

[Bmiller]

That Formosa is a nice flyer! looks very stable and solid in the air.
Liked the super low inverted stunt too!:)
I should get someone to video one of my UF SU-27 flights,
I'm always trying to hit the ground with it but keep missing!LOL

[Crash Test Dummy]

Thats funny, keep trying you'll connnect if you really want to, LOL!!

CTD

[Matt Halton]

I'm building a second Hawk to hop up.Am looking at the Justgofly 400DF. Just searching for comparison info with the LSPJ.
Love the one I already have, but I feel the need...

Matt

[Bmiller]

I just scored a LSPJ motor! Helps when you know the R&D guy!
Guess I'll start building!
I don't know any real info on this motor except he said w/3S a 6x4 is good and about as big as I should go. I figure to use a 5.5x4.5 for alittle more speed. I should read up on the LS parkjet thread at RCG to get some specs.

Bruce

[Kosh]

Scott the owner of Little Screamers lives not to far from me and I have been happy with his DeNovo wind motors. His updated site gives more info on your motor and says it can push a 6x5.5 prop but your guy winding them knows better Im sure. More info at bottom of page. http://www.littlescreamers.com/

[Bmiller]

Thanks for the info and link Kosh, Good to know it can turn a 6x5.5.
I had talked with Bob and should've said my 6x4 reference was specific to the UF hawk setup only, He said it was a better flyer all around with less torque effect at slow speed(launch) yet still great performance and flighttimes using TP1320s which is what I'll be using.:)

Bruce

[Moonwalker]

I finished building this model today. It took me about 25 hours to get it right. It is a real looker. Not used to putting so much time into a model . . .

[Crash Test Dummy]

I'm getting ready to pull the LSPJ out of my Micro Jet and put it in my Hawk. My last set up was very heavy and I didn't like the way it flew. I'm sure the LSPJ motor and a 1500 Mah 3S pack will fly her real nice.

Moon did you fly yours yet?

CTD

[Moonwalker]

Sure did! She flew for about 2.4 seconds, lol. Torqued her over on the windy launch and cracked her in two. Taped, launched, crashed again. Only weighed a little over 12 ounces AUW so it really had to be hand launched in very light winds. I had carved out too much space in the nose to fit the battery and this weakened her to the point of being worth, 2 crashes. That was a sad day indeed.

I gave up on her and then transplanted the LSPJ into the Microjet, which I made a bungee for since becoming so paranoid after that BAE Hawk experience. I should have bungeed the Hawk and she might still be around now but she was a fragile liltte goose running on borrowed time.

[Kosh]

I'm about 2/3 done with mine but plan to use a puple peril. I have watched 3 of these go down so far and a good launch is super critical from what I can tell. Video from top hand lanches were it just flies away from you with a light toss may really be the way to go with this and the F-16.

Sorry Dave but I'm going to release your video so others can learn here. I feel they both handle very close on launch and it doesnt take to much to get out of shape very fast. This video was just for fun and Dave really is a VERY good pilot but perhaps a underhand toss could have saved this.

http://www.cascadeap.com/Daves F16.wmv (17.3MB)

Its one of those right click and "Save target as" things


Kosh

[Crash Test Dummy]

I got the gear installed tonight so I may get to fly her tomorrow.
Kosh, I also have a F-16 which flew very nice for me. Launch was easy after I got use to it. I was running a 2000KV Himax with a 2100 3S pack and a 6X5.5 prop in the F-16. The Hawk will have a LSPJ with a 3S 1500 on a 5.5X4.5 prop, so it should be easer to launch.....I hope, LOL!!

i have seen video of guys launching them underhand.. I may try that.

CTD

[snolord]

i just saw this so here i go

CDRom powered

[Ben D wing]

Has anyone converted the Hawk for EDF? It shouldn't be too dificult to carve out the intakes and engine bay to shoehorn a fan unit and duct in there, but what size, 50mm? Also, would there be enough room to squeeze in a suitable lipo pack?
It would sound so cool with a fan unit howling away AND there would be no chance of diced fingers on launch:eek: :D

[vax6335]

I just saw that these things are only $40 from Tower without a motor, so I ordered one. Also have a LittleScreamers Park Jet on the way from HL!

[Ed Waldrep]

I converted one to the Wemotec Microfan 50mm a few years ago, it was quite a bit of work, used photo paper ducting and had to remove some foam, that was difficult. Himaxx 2025 5300 motor, 225 watts on gen 2 cells, had problems with controller overheating, castle 25, I'll put behind motor next time.

There's a larger Hawk available from Electric Jet Factory that's made for edf, but in only takes a small fan and the ducting isn't the best but it's easier than the ultrafly conversion. I put a Wemotec Minifan in mine, it's larger than the stock 65mm fan so I had to remove some foam, but it will haul on 450 watts. I saw the Hawk fly on about 250 watts on a Hyperflow fan, flew about 50 mph maybe faster, not bad but no speedster. To go fast it will need more power and maybe some ducting mods.

[Ed Waldrep]

Here's a link to my Ultrafly Hawk conversion from a few years ago. It sits on my shelf begging for attention, I balanced the fan a while back and was going to get it airworthy again but other things demand my time. It got really beat up with the thermal shutdowns I had, damn foam just looks crappy and isn't durable. Need more glass airplanes!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272348&page=3

Here's some photos, aerial shots taken by Chris Wolfe of Jet Hangar at Arizona Jet Rally 2004. Man I had fun with this plane, but I wouldn't convert another one unless I wanted a small one.

Another way to convert it would be to fill it with expanding foam and then hot wire the ducting out of that, but that's still a lot of work, you need to be an obsessed scratchbuilder like me.

[Joe 1320]

Looks like I'm jumping on the Hawk bandwagon too. :D

[Matt Halton]

Hi Joe

Good choice!
Don't forget to power it with an LSPJ and 3S 1300 Hextronik cells for the ultimate set up.
I got 2 packs from these guys:
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2095

I'm ordering 2 more right now :)

[Joe 1320]

Well..... now here's the thing, I have a tendency to go a little overboard.
I literally have a hobby shop's worth of stock sitting here at my disposal, motors, escs, lipos, I just can't make up my mind on what combo to use. I have a nice 3200 kV brushless outrunner that would do the trick, I have some bell type outrunners that draw low amps if I want to go for really long flight times. I have some heavy inrunners that can handle 450 watts, but that may take more lipo and the weight goes up. Decisions, decisions......

How do you like those Hextronic cells? I've ordered hundreds of dollars from United Hobbies but just haven't tried their cells yet.

[Matt Halton]

Sorry for the late reply!
I have been using my HXT lipo's very successfully, only a few flights, but are fine so far...how long for yet I can't really say, but it has transformed my latest LSPJ powered UF Hawk.
It is much faster,and has nearer the performance I have been craving:tc:

Here is a video link with an all flying tail conversion and rudder fitted.
The rudder is VERY effective, knife edge flying is so easy, it's rude not to put a rudder on this bird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bcx7nn4T2w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnpWYdIujB0

[Stormovic]

What is a LSPJ motor?

[vax6335]

It's a Little Screamers Park Jet motor. They're available here:
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/littlescreamers.htm

That little motor will turn planes of this size into rockets!

[bvincent]

Thanks guys! I'm kinda partial to the PJ ;)

Here's mine on the PJ with a 6x4 prop and 1320 pack. This is the same plane Bruce saw me fly last year at an event, Still have this bird and she's in as good a shape as this video a year and half ago!

http://www.youtube.com/v/B6UNmByCw6U