Ultra-Batics or UltraBatics is short for “Ultralight Slope Aerobatics” and refers to 3 or 4 axis aerobatic gliders that are ultra-lightweight, ultra-maneuverable, and ultra-durable. Hence, UltraBatic.
The UltraBatics movement started here in Santa Barbara, California in the summer of 2011, and is now spreading around the world. UltraBatics is the product of collaboration between “Swiss Peter” Richner, Dawson Henderson of Flagstaff, Arizona and myself Steve “Surfimp” Lange.
Combining ultralight building techniques perfected by Peter with my Le Fish aerobatics glider design and Dawson’s innovative Henderson Pulley, we were able to create ultralight versions of the plane that were less than 1/2 the normal weight, allowing a radically new style of extremely close-in, low altitude flying in very light lift. These planes are fully aerobatic in as little as 6-8mph at a decent slope, but can also fly in 20-25mph and thermal, too.
UltraBatics gliders – “UItraBats” – are generally constructed from EPP and/or Depron foam, are covered in lightweight yet very durable laminating film, use minimal carbon fiber spars for reinforcement, and generally have wingloadings in the 4 – 6 oz/sq.ft. (12-20 g/dm^2) range. Some of the most radical examples employ Madslide-inspired horizontal stabilizers, controlled by Henderson Pulleys, which are capable of 180° rotation. This allows them to do radical filp maneuvers in the style invented by Benoit Paysant-Le Roux.
UltraBatics takes inspiration from three main sources:
1. The Dream-Flight Alula and Weasel
2. The Madslide aerobatics glider of Benoit Paysant-Le Roux of France
3. The French VTPR (“voltige tres pres du relief” aka “aerobatics very close to the ground”) flying style
The intention of UltraBatics is to explore new possibilites in slope aerobatics. We are limited only by what we can imagine.
Hanging Loose at Mormon Lake Overlook, 06-11-13 from Dawson Henderson on Vimeo.
Morning Slope Session, Greens Peak, AZ from Dawson Henderson on Vimeo.
Two new videos from Dawson, one from Greens Peak and the other from Mormon Lake. Enjoy!
Velocity BL – Maiden Flight @ Beechmont Australia from Rhys Porter on Vimeo.
Rhys Porter has done it again! This time he’s created a really cool all-wood ultrabatics glider he calls the Velocity BL. It has a 2m wingspan and uses a heavily modified Quark fuselage along with a wing of Rhys’s design. The plane also incorporates a stabilizer capable of significant deflection, allowing some nice flip action both upright and inverted.
Check out the full build thread for the Velocity BL on RCGroups. You should also see his previous project, the Yoda composite ultrabat. Really great job, Rhys! 
The latest from Fernando Jesus of Portugal… very nice!
JGAF’s latest session with his Buzz at Long Beach, lots of smooth flying per usual.
In & Out of Grace from surfimp on Vimeo.
A short-but-sweet highlights video from my Long Beach session. It’ll make your head spin!
Justin “JGAF” Gafford just turned 21 years old and to celebrate, he’s made us a movie to enjoy! This is him flying a one-take sequence at Bluff Park with his heavily modified Future Slope Designs Flow. 72″ wingspan, 16oz all up weight. Nice flying & HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Another fun one from the Le Fishray crew in Italy! Enjoy
Jam Session from surfimp on Vimeo.
My best video to date… includes not-seen-before flip tricks, a lot of fun super close-in ultrabatic flying, and tons of drags!!! Great jam session with my ultralight Le FIsh, shared with Justin “JGAF” Gafford and his own-design Buzz. Epic good times!
Railslides Volume 2 from surfimp on Vimeo.
Another fun railslide session at Long Beach – finally got a halfway decent slide, really stoked on that. Plenty of funny crashes, too – railsliding is hard on planes, good thing an ultrabat is nearly indestructible!
See the original railslide video here.
Justin’s Buzz from surfimp on Vimeo.
Super cool video of Justin “JGAF” Gafford flying his own-design, scratchbuilt Buzz at his home slope, Bluff Park in Long Beach, CA.
Was a lot of fun to fly with him, and to film him… enjoy!
