Goldberg Ultimate
This was an expensive experience. I built two of them. Well, no I worked on one and
built the other. This was another one of those doing work for someone in order to get
an airplane. For these efforts I received the T-28 that is in another article.
The original concept was to cover an Ultimate that was built by my friends brother and
neither one of them wanted to do the monokote. The job sounded simple enough if I could
have just covered the plane and not had to finish it. Then there were all the doubts
about myself and/or various parts of the construction. It really took me to long to do
the first one and even to longer on the second one. (Excuse the English) The worst part
was that I got to fancy for myself. I modeled them after TOC champ Chip Hyde's plane,
similar to the picture shown. (which is not one of the ones I built)
The first one was all finished and we went out to the field for its maiden flight. I was
nervous as all get out and I wasn't flying. My friend took off and started to circle the
field. Then I heard some terrible words that I will never forget, "I don't have any elevator!"
Well, the plane finished a slow dive right into the ground and there was nothing that
could be done about it. Then as we settled down, I went over the steps of building in my
mind and Blam!! it hit me. The wreck was my fault. I didn't put the keeper on the quick
connect!!! All the testing and jostling around did not knock it loose but almost as soon
as it left the ground ... it came off!!
Well, back to the building board. That is how I came to build two Ultimates for my friend.
I just had to make good for my mistake. The second one is finished and he has been flying it
for a couple of months now. It flys well and looks great in the air. I think the bi-planes
make all the aerobatics look better.
For another view jump to:
Review