Magnum building questions
its a simple design... apart from the wood under the engine its pretty much bullet proof.. however not water proof! the tail gets a bit floppy if you leave it in the rain. John wandered why it felt weird when he was flying it, couldn't get it trimmed. the tail might have been loose but it took the speed, and landed safely.
only one i've seen break up in flight was where he changed the mounting method but didn't pack the wing bolt plate to the wing seat, after a year he must have over tightened it breaking the wing joint. while inverted the wing split and parted. I've seen film rip off with a loud bang, a pilot soiling himself, but it didn't even phase the plane.