UltraFly Model Corporation
Encyclopedia
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
-based manufacturer of intermediate and advanced almost ready-to-fly electric radio controlled aircraft whose airframe parts are injection molded from EPS
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
foam. They produce a line of brushless motors and brushless-compatible electronic speed control
Electronic speed control
An electronic speed control or ESC is an electronic circuit with the purpose to vary an electric motor's speed, its direction and possibly also to act as a dynamic brake...
s as well. The products are distributed worldwide by U.S. based Great Planes of Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
The company was formed May 1, 2003 by general manager Charlie Hua. Hua, an expert in the field of information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
as well as an avid RC pilot, approached the design and manufacturing of his models from a market research viewpoint by determining the strengths and weaknesses in the ARF aircraft market, both foam and more traditional balsa
Balsa
Ochroma pyramidale, commonly known as the balsa tree , is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a large, fast-growing tree that can grow up to tall. It is the source of balsa wood, a very lightweight material with many uses...
/covering models. After determining that there was too much competition in the balsa market, Hua turned his attention to injection molded foam even over laser-cut foam for more consistent quality and the ability to create more complex shapes than would be possible with either laser cut or balsa. Injection molded foam planes of this type are also resistant to crash damage and are easily repaired after hard landings and minor crashes.
UltraFly's goal was to determine the benchmarks of the size of the electric aircraft they would be competing against. They settled on 400-class "park flyer" class aircraft with a retail price of US$85–100 ($95–110 European/Japanese).
According to UltraFly's website, Hua and his team based their product line around these criteria:
- Flying Weight: 450-750 g
- Wingspan: 75-120 cm
- Motor: Special wind Mabuchi 380-class motor
- Gearing Options: 1.9, 2.4, 3.0, 3.9:1
- Cell Count: 8-10 Ni-MH 1100 mAh cells
- Power: 65-105 W
This approach, though simple, was rather novel. Hua felt that concentrating on the development of a single power plant, one easily optimized through gearing and propeller choices, the system could be used in a variety of aircraft including pusher
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
-prop, jet-styled planes. Hua takes a personal interest in his product line and is not only a frequent contributor on a number of R/C online bulletin boards but personally represents UltraFly at hobby and model shows.
All UltraFly models come with a Falcon 400 motor which is the equivalent of the aforementioned Mabuchi, but all are easily upgraded to brushless operation with the addition of the proper speed control. The UltraFly Cessna 182 has the added advantage of two sets of wings. The so-called "beginner" wing has a relatively flat airfoil
Airfoil
An airfoil or aerofoil is the shape of a wing or blade or sail as seen in cross-section....
and thick leading edge for stability while preventing inverted flight and the possibility of a crash by an inexperienced pilot. The nearly identical-looking "advanced" wing features a semi-symmetrical airfoil and thinner leading edge. This combination, in conjunction with the proper propeller and battery, allows full aerobatics and will double the Cessna's airspeed to nearly 50 mph (80 km/h). Depending on preference, skill and the surface of the field, the 182 can be built with tricycle landing gear and steerable nosewheel per the prototype or as a taildragger less the nosewheel in the style of the Cessna 180
Cessna 180
The Cessna 180 is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush...
. However, this configuration does not allow the model to be taxied.
Model lineup
These links are to articles on the full-scale prototypes:- Sukhoi SU-27Sukhoi Su-27The Sukhoi Su-27 is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high manoeuvrability...
jet - F-16 Fighting FalconF-16 Fighting FalconThe General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
jet - BAE HawkBAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
jet - PC-9 low-wing military trainer
- Extra 300S low-wing aerobatic sport plane
- Cessna 182Cessna 182The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
- Furious 3-D biplane
- Outrage 3-D biplane