The winds weren't quite so high today as expected and I was able to maiden this afternoon. A bit turbulent and varying speeds.

The Sickle flew great right from the start in a quartering wind that ranged from 10 to 15 mph. Needed 2 clicks of up on the elevator and 1 click of left aileron and it was flying very nicely, without a doubt the most precise flying model I have ever owned, although admittedly this is the first truly modern pattern model I have owned as well.

With the CG located halfway between the middle and the back of the wing tube, it required just a smidge of push inverted and held a 45 degree line upwind with no elevator. Hard to tell much about the downline pull or tuck, or the rudder trim, with the turbulence in the sky, but it seems not to need a lot of correction. Can't wait to fly it on a calm day and find out. As someone noted before, rolls are practically effortless.

I got in 5 short (5 minute) flights to begin conditioning the batteries, but suffice to say that even at this point there is plenty of power on tap. Ambient temp was 55 degF and upon landing the Zippys and Rhinos were barely warm and the ESC and motor were cooled off completely by the time I could get the canopy off to check.

Beautiful flying machine... it's a keeper, for sure!