I flew my Seawind a week ago as an maiden flight.
The first flight was exciting, it lifted off after a couple of bounce.
I didn't touch elevator during it's planing, it lifted off by itself.
Second flight, I input a small amount of up force on elevator, it lifted off
better than the first flight, but had one bounce.
The third flight, it's lift off was smooth.
It flys very beautiflly in the blue sky. Yes indeed.
Flying the airplane with float is common, a matter of course, but flying
Seawind is very exciting and a joy.
The C.G seems to be set properly and OS FS91S/pump drew fuel from
the the tank in the fuselage. I got a bit up trim on elevator, that's all.
The landings was difficult. It bounced every time I landed on the water.
Maybe the touch down speeds were too fast, however I couldn't reduce the
speed more for fear of stalling.
A disaster came next day.
I had difficulty in installing the wing, the nylon screw wouldn't go into the
hole on the wing. It took for a while to set both wings, so after the wings
were set I thought it had been all done. I put the hatch on the fuselage
without connecting the wire of aileron and flaps.
The engine started easy, taxing on the water was normal.
I always check the flight control before the flight, but I didn't do it.
I advanced the power and it lifted off as usual.
After airborne I tried to make the airplane level since it was a bit left banked.
The Seawind did not change the bank angle, matters worse the bank went steeper.
I didn't know what was happening, I couldn't control the aileron.
I realized just before the crash on the water I had no memory that I connected the wires.
The life of my Seawind was a day.
However I knew it flys good like a real one, I ordered one yesterday. It will be my most
favorite seaplane.
I'm sorry I had no video and picture for the first flight, but Kyosho guy was there and
took a picture of my airplane flying. I will upload it if he gave me the picture.
Any way GP Seawind is I think a very attractive seaplane. I worried such a heavy airplane
can fly, but it was just a needless fears.

Tsutomu Mabuchi