ORIGINAL: Gray Beard

All finished and ready to fly. I don't know how I did it but it came in under the weight of the original built by Nick Ziroli, his came in at 8.5 pounds and mine is right at 8 pounds even. His wing loading is 25 ounces per Sq. foot. Mine is using an engine twice the size of the one he used and I fully sheeted, glassed and painted mine using Klass Kote paint. The other one I built at the same time is way lighter then mine and is electric powered with open bay wing? Go figure.
Even with the added weight of the YS 1.10 up front and mounting everything I could forward I needed 2 ounces of lead to get the CG. I even used the heaviest spinner I could find. Mr. Ziroli needed a pound of lead in the nose to get his CG correct.
Maiden is going to be from land this week, the floats won't be tried until next spring or early summer. Looks way cooler with the floats on it though.
Specs are 63 inch gull wing.
Wing loading of about 22 ounces per Sq. foot.
Engine required is stated as .40 to .50. Right!! good luck with that.
Weight should be around 8 pounds but is stated at 8.5?
I kept everything aft of the CG as light as I could knowing from the building article it was going to be way tail heavy.
The weight with the land gear and floats isn't much different and may be why his came out heavier then mine but the floats are very light weight.
Had to give the old engine a valve job yesterday, a real thrill getting those little spring hold down clips in there. Don't want to pull the valves again any time soon. Fired it up today and was impressed with all the new found compression, happens when your exhaust valve isn't stuck open.
Anyway, maiden this week if the weather holds.