Author Topic: UKEY 35 (Read 2847 times)

Mike Griffin · « **on:** May 31, 2012, 02:42:35 PM »

OK.....for the past few weeks Joe Just and I have had several conversations about his UKEY. I am fully aware of the fact that Jim Pearson was going to take over for Joe and his partner and starting making the UKEY but as it turns out, the availability has gotten slim to none. I am in the beginning stages of building a prototype of the UKEY35. Joe has been gracious enough to send me some drawings of the original and what spare parts he had at his house. The fuselage drawing he did for me is great and I can manufacture the fuselage from it. I am currently waiting on the wing root and tip chords so I can have John Duncan cut me a prototype wing.

If anyone has an old UKEY 35 fuselage they could spare, I would greatly appreciate getting it to double check some measurements.

The question I have is if there are still enough people out there that would buy a UKEY cut from the original design. I need to know if there is before I proceed into production for the UKEY35.

Phillip Kenney · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:14:58 PM »

I have been involved in another forum in a discussion about what "interest in something means". So with that in mind depending on the cost factor for the kit/arf or whatever it ends up including shipment I would be interested.

John Desrosiers · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2012, 04:09:13 PM »

Talk to Jim Carpenter in Salem NH. Joe must have his phone number.

Joseph Patterson · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2012, 07:01:09 PM »

Mike,
I talked to Jim Pierson at the Marietta, Ga. contest week before last. He states that he is soon to crank up production again. His had been working long hours the last few years, which prevented him from keeping up production. He says now he is ready to start putting them out again. Thought I'd let you know.
Doug

ray copeland · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2012, 07:55:42 PM »

In my opinion, the UKEY is one of the best trainers for up and coming pilots!! With that being said, it would be a Whole lot better with a slightly longer nose and whatever changes that it would take to balance for a (3 to 4 oz.) sized tank and dual wheels . The Ukey could take a lot of newbies thru beginner and into intermediate. If someone does continue to market this airplane , please take these changes into consideration.

Joejust · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:14:11 PM »

I have just PM'd Mike with the suggestion that he not build any Ukey kits if Jim pearson does get back into production. Pearson was given the right to the Ukey and unless he decides not to build any he should have the sole rights to produce them, improve them and promote them.
Joe Just

PS I have always indicated that Jim Carpenter was my partner when we both developed the Ukey series, not just me.

steven yampolsky · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2012, 09:13:06 PM »

Wow, how time flies! The kid on the first photo is 'Lil Sherm, grandchild of Jim Carpenter's friend and New England combat pilot Sherman. 'Lil Sherm must be 17 by now.

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2012, 09:19:18 PM »

Doug if that is what Jim's plans are, then I will bow out. Joe did give him the permission to do the UKEYS. The reason I was going to do it was because there had been a long absence of availability. I will cancel my plans to produce them and stop production on the cedar prototype. Thanks for letting me know Doug before I spent money for nothing....

Mike

dankar · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:25:56 PM »

To bad as Mike would get these available. Seen many planes stalled by I'll get to it later jazz. I know its not easy but I remember a few years back these were very popular. Its a older slow combat design with mono wheel. No rocket science here design similar design and call it something else. All old stunters were modified Noblers etc. Call it U-control .36. Joe put out a F-4-F N/W sport carrier plane just revamp that with better thicker wing ?? Make it a stunter. Pleany of room for tank etc. External controls.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2012, 08:24:20 AM »

Don't know Mike or Jim and don't have a dog in the fight as it's doubtful I'll buy another Ukey. Nothing wrong with the Ukey's, great airplane I've just progressed beyond that stage..

Anyway in my opinion if Jim is having issues with making a very popular kit readily available and visible then I feel he should turn it over to someone that can meet the demand. Nothing against Jim as I don't know the circumstances but you know how the old saying goes, Sh1t or get off the pot.

I'm just enough of a but hole that if I were Mike, knowing the demand is still there I would probably go to CoreHouse, buy a bunch of wings, design my own version and make it readily available. Mike probably won't do that as he is a nicer guy than I am.

11290 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2012, 09:36:05 PM »

Tried to get a couple of them a few years ago and never could get any responses of any kind so just gave up on them. Ended up taking an old set of Profile Trainer plans and building some with some modifications. Forgot how they had flown like a brick 40+ years ago. Things haven't changed in that respect.

I second B. Reeves suggestion in his last paragraph.

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2012, 09:45:34 PM »

I am giving thought to some possibilities.....

Mike

dankar · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2012, 10:10:38 PM »

Plane like Ukey could be started on a Monday and flown by Wensday ot lastest Sunday. With epoxy/ SLC covering/ rattle cans not even a wiff of dope have a nice flyer. Move the profile of body a little/ shape wing a little different/ Tail etc then give it a new name. Or wait something that will not happen for one reson or another. I have no dog in fight either but know folks liked these planes. Like I said before this is nothing but a 80's slow combat plane with a wheel. They added a canopy thingy to it also. They sparayed some stuff to wing I guess for strenght[??] but just corer it with silkspan 50/50 white glue or SLC. Maybe even econocote. Silkspan gives you stronger wing. SLC is paintable etc. Just an idea.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2012, 11:03:37 PM »

Dankar,,

you have repeated your opinion that it is a combat plane with a wheel,, I must inform you, Joe ( one of the original cast of producer/designers) for the Ukey,, It is not a combat plane, never was, never came from one,, the only thing "combat plane " about it is the fact that the wing is solid foam,, but even that is not combat really,,

It was their design ground up,, and a LOT of thought went into it,,
I got mine from him on I think it was a monday evening,, drove 3 hours home, assembled it tuesday after work, and was flying it wed after work,,

Guy B Jr · « **Reply #14 on:** June 02, 2012, 12:01:33 AM »

I have both the UKEY 15 w/LA 15 and a UKEY 40 w/Brodak 40. I love them. Now, if I were going to redesign them, I would look at two alternatives.
1. Make one similar to the UKEY in moments, but mount the wing in a ply saddle like Phil's Gotcha SX 460. Then you can easily replace the wing.
2. Use a design with some "view" appeal such as Doc Passen's No Blurr. It has the profile of the Nobler, but has solid foam wings mounted on dowels with external controls. Only drawback is that it has flaps. Very simple plane to assemble and would be durable.

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #15 on:** June 02, 2012, 09:32:52 AM »

Somewheres back around 1997...The (Gotcha) STREAKER

Ward-O

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2012, 05:37:42 PM »

What I had kinda in mind to do with the UKEY before I found out Jim Pearson is going to start producing them again was to make it a take apart with a dual wire landing gear like a Ringmaster etc. The wing would have been removable.
I am working on some other take aparts as well but still need some tweaking before I make it public...

Mike

Steve Scott · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2012, 06:20:41 PM »

I had all 3 of the UKEY series although I never really did fly the 35 sized one before selling them all off. As my son said only the other day, "They flew a lot better than they looked."

I flew the UKEY 40 with an FP25 and that was really all the engine it would need. Flew fast and true. I actually enjoyed the 15 size a bit more but, as I remember, it required quite a bit of nose weight. I flew the 15 with both the Norvel 15 and FP 15.

If they were offered again I'd buy another!

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2012, 06:23:00 PM »

FYI & IMO, Phil C. has a perfectly fine and superior replacement for the Ukey 35. Nothing wrong with a Skyray, either, especially with an all-balsa framed wing.

One of our club guys got a Jim Pearson Ukey 35 some years ago, and it was a huge jump in quality. I'm not sure that's entirely a good thing...probably too nice for the purpose at hand, but the originals were pretty ugly.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2012, 06:41:37 AM »

Isn't that the case with any of our planes. The worse they look the better they fly.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2012, 08:17:32 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on June 04, 2012, 06:41:37 AM

Isn't that the case with any of our planes. The worse they look the better they fly.

Doc, I don't think that's the issue. The deal is that the uglier they get, the less nervous we are when learning to do the tricks that are new to us. Nervousness makes us do stuff wrong, makes the planes crash and get uglier.

Kim Mortimore · « **Reply #21 on:** June 05, 2012, 08:43:26 PM »

If anyone starts commercially producing a Ukey type plane with dowel-in-foam wing joints, please take care with accurate alignment of the dowels and holes. The one I bought years ago was way off.

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2012, 09:07:08 PM »

Not to hijack the thread but did anyone notice on Walt Umlands trainer that it was a take apart model with a removable wing with 2 pieces and the stab. It would certainly be a plus if you really crunch it.

Dennis

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #23 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:07:48 PM »

Quote from: Steve Helmick on June 05, 2012, 08:17:32 PM

Doc, I don't think that's the issue. The deal is that the uglier they get, the less nervous we are when learning to do the tricks that are new to us. Nervousness makes us do stuff wrong, makes the planes crash and get uglier.

When I was learning to fly, I would throw some silkspan or plastic film on the wing, clear dope the rest and go fly and not worry about it. If I put it in the ground (which i have put many a plane out of its misery) you didnt have to put me on suicide watch because I had spent 6 months finishing and painting it.

Joseph Patterson · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2012, 09:30:51 PM »

In answer to Bob R and Mike G, there is nothing wrong with Mike or anyone else marketing a stunt trainer of their OWN DESIGN. There certainly is a void to fill at this time.
Doug

john e. holliday · « **Reply #25 on:** June 08, 2012, 06:31:33 AM »

Especially one that will teach a person how to assemble said aircraft.

Author Topic: UKEY 35 (Read 2847 times)

Mike Griffin

Joejust

steven yampolsky

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin