Super Cub S

[Knackered Sailor]

As some of you may have seen a while back, I lost my Super Cub over the hills and far away.  I got a Quattro X quadcopter which is great fun and brilliant for photography but it's not like flying a plane.   I've now got a Super Cub Sport and it's brilliant.  If anything, despite having ailerons and flaps to contend with, it's easier to fly than the old Cub.

Yesterday was a perfect day for flying before the crap weather comes in (as it has) so off to the club flying field and went through 6 batteries and two recharged and went home with the SCS in tact and a warm glow of satisfaction at multiple perfect or near perfect landings. (There's not a smiley for 'smug') 

[renard80]

So pleased to see you enjoying yourself, sailor.

I wish we had had some of that calm Norfolk weather down south. It's been windy and overcast or damp for days.

[sham]

Pssst, its me that's from Norfolk.

I'm curious about this plane. I don't know which one it is, you refer to it as the sportcub, and as the Supercub s...

Which model are you flying, young sailor?

[Knackered Sailor]

Pssst, its me that's from Cornwall :-)

Sorry about any confusion it's this one by Park Zone www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXXnBOb-xPg

[sham]

Its the same one I have. A great plane, isn't it?

Love the slow, slow fly by.

[pasquale91]

This one is on the radar in my future.
Psst, it's me from Texas.

[Knackered Sailor]

Oct 16, 2014 12:42:53 GMT 1 sham said:

Its the same one I have. A great plane, isn't it?

Love the slow, slow fly by.

It's brilliant mate. I've just programmed in 20% down elevator mix for when flaps operated as it liked to nose up quite a bit before when flaps went down. Just waiting for some decent weather again to check it out.

Psst pasquale91 get one, you wont regret it.

[sham]

Yea, I put the down elevator in.. Still very sensitive to throttle on full flaps. I programmed in half flaps on a separate switch to make take offs more scale, but the elevator mix isn't needed for that setting.

Dual rates are useful for scale flight too, full rate can be a little sharp to look pretty

[Knackered Sailor]

Indeed yes sham, I've set flaps at 70%

[sham]

Cool. So you've done like me with partial flaps on one switch and full flaps on another? It does make it a lot nicer to have that option doesn't it?

[hghost]

Did you guys just buy another servo to have flaps ?

does it come with all the hardware for Flaps except the servo ?

I was not really going to buy another plane this year, but with the $20 dollar off coupon and a survey coupon of $15 bucks one could get the Sport Cub BNF
for the price of a PNP version....makes one consider this Cub .

[sham]

Yes, everything is there except the servo.
You just have to cut the flaps free of the wing and connect it up.

Go for it, it's a truly great model.

[hghost]

Compared to the Super Cub, just what is the differences in Flight characteristics ?

I know it has flaps and can be slowed down allot, BUT....

what are the pros and cons between the two ?

The Super Cub is a fairly docile plane, but has a tendency to dip it's nose allot in a turn if your not careful
Does the Sport Cub do the same for instance ?

That sort of stuff.....all info is appreciated.

[sham]

OK. Soo....
Its a lot faster. Sounds obvious, but that's the main difference.

It will fly slow, but even at half throttle its faster than the SC. Its a neutral kind of feeling.. It does what you tell it.
Example, with flaps not in use, it doesn't aim for the stars the second you hit the throttle. You actually have to pitch up slightly. I suspect this is related to AS3X, which as you know tries to stop the plane doing things you haven't asked it to.

It turns beautifully. None of the SC sluggishness, very crisp on the ailerons - and it only tends to nose down during turns when you're flying very slow.

The best way to describe it simply is "balanced".

The only thing I can think of to be wary of is flying dead slow on flaps, especially in a breeze, turn it gently or it will drop a wing. Again, I suspect this is the AS3X trying to keep it level instead of dropping the nose - until it can't anymore. Recovery is simply a little power, and pretty instant.

When you're done with scale flying, those same characteristics make it a lovely trick trainer - it will do anything but prolonged vertical - but with the ease of recovery of a high winged trainer.
Love it.


But as much as I love it, for the benefit of any newbies thinking of going straight to the SportCub, it's not a good first plane... the Supercub is the better trainer and teaches you more. As good as the SportCub is, it does feel a little 'helped' by the electronics - not that that's a bad thing, but I think that even if you have a good idea on the theory of aerodynamics as they apply to flight (as I did) the old, basic Supercub teaches you a great deal as it reacts in a very obvious and very predictable way to pilot mistakes. The way it reacts to hard turns and throttle, for instance.
It's a matter of great pride that (apart from larger wheels, making space to mount a camera underneath, a slight battery box mod, losing the LG skirts to help landings and of course removing ACT) my Supercub LP is still as new and has had no parts replaced/removed through damage, but that's only because I flew it carefully and gently until I explored its limits and learned through mistakes while high up with time to recover.

It sounds a little bit like bragging, but I was genuinely terrified of crashing and I was a very nervous pilot to start with. Learning on a forgiving, basic plane that rewards "proper" use of controls is a fantastic way to learn why a plane acts as it does and get the skills you need to move on to other planes and even to teach others.

[hghost]

Good Info Sham.

My first flight with the SC was a very foggy morning and a Pine Tree landing.

The SC pushes the boundaries of my smaller area, why I was curious about the Sport Cub .

The Super Cub is about as perfect a plane for anyone I could suggest outside the Champ of course for learning on.

I have hit the ground hard with my SC, but on the wheels and have nosed over with it .

But most of my flights are 15 feet or less, sometimes higher but not to high at all, the Cub is a good one for that
sort of flying. My issue is Wind and limited space ( Why I installed a SAFE Rx in my Super Cub ) it has the AS3X technology

I have not tried it in very windy conditions as the weather here has been way to windy to fly anything.

I would not even fly my X2 heli that was designed to fly in extreme winds....just to much wind in my opinion here.

Why i am asking about the Sport Cub and it's characteristics . Trying to figure if ( for me ) it is worth investing in.
My limited area and flying ways are not suitable for every aircraft . I like the Delta Ray for example, but it's design does not like that low and slow flight and limited area. Some swear by it for smaller areas , I found that is not the case. yes it can be flown here and I have, it just makes it stressful at times and even with AS3X , the wind blows it around allot, get that wide body sideways in a cross wind and its goodbye into a tree really fast .

I do not like crashing, but that's not my concern as much as handling and control at Lower altitudes, and slower speeds .
Now that i know the SC dips it's nose hard, it is not an issue, and I compensate knowing it does....my tall grass catches any mishaps and helps
cushion any impact.

But watching the Vids I would assume the Sport Cub, would be actually easier to control and handle at slower speeds with those flaps. I saw some video that showed it floating along very very slow with flaps down...appeared far slower than the Super cub at some points .

Why I was curious and thought i would ask.

Not sure if I will invest in it or anymore planes this year

i have so many already and some not even flown yet and many still in boxes and in need of being built

The Slow Stick was to be my next project, but the weather and some health issues have put a damper on flying much
this year. So i put it on hold for a bit. I do have an Archer i want to maiden before the snow flies, but do not know if that
will ever happen this year.

Decisions, decisions...lol

Thanks Sham for the input

Thanks sailor as well.