Pittsdriver, you are absolutely correct! But the problem started long before then, It actually started when I taxied out and realized that it was tracking funny. I knew that it was one of those d**med self adjusting axles was loose. A more conservative person would have put the plane down and come back another day. But my fanny isn't strapped in it so lets see what she'll do. After the flight was over I realized what had happened was the good wheel had left the runway first (20/20 hind sight is a wonderful thing) and the side load pushed the wheel against the pants (I think it was there all through the roll out) causing a yaw as well as the drop of the wing. I did not go into this in the write-up partly because I'm embarrassed, I did a really stupid thing. I know better! I could have forgot to mention it but this discussion is important to all those just starting out (and to some of us who have been doing this for a while, my son made me add that. He's also right of coarse and knows it, you can tell he knows just by the smug little grin on his face as he reads over my shoulder). You can't always foresee what a bad setup will cause, but the out come of a good setup is always repeatable.

The blow by blow on what happened was as follows: I had been holding no elevator and had just gotten to the stage of the roll where the elevator could be neutralized and the plane was starting to turn with the rudder (meaning I was in to flying speed and could start backing of the rudder). When it lifted off the right wing lifted and the left wing did not, also I had some noticeable left yaw. I remember thinking to my self "Great another test flight from hell", as I pushed the rudder to full right but the left yaw had pointed the nose toward the ground and the rudder was not going to do the job of bringing the nose up and level the wings so in went the ailerons. As you know Rudder coupling in war birds usually pushes the nose down any how so I'm thinking get the wings level prior to touchdown to avoid the four corners landing (wing tip, nose, wing tip, top of tail post, if it holds together for all four) or a snap which at that altatude and atitude would yeild the same results. I'm not proud of it I made a mistake. I was due some luck and now I've used it up, again. I feel lucky I still have a plane and its stability saved it.

I hope to get some flights on it this weekend, at least prove to my self that, that was a one time occurrence (caused by over eagerness). Everything else in the flight tells me that it should be. The first flight is on moving pictures, so I get to go back and see how bad it was time after time. My son seams to really like that part of the tape. I'll get some flying pic's this week end and post them.

P.S. If any of you see me at the field it was superior piloting skill that saved the plane, or I don't know you!

If you can admit your mistakes you are doomed to repeat them. The problem is I keep making different ones?
Joe