My friend has the early version and the main springs are a lot softer than my latest version was, even with a stiffer spring in the nose leg the plane still sits nose down and compresses the front leg on take off on grass and Tarmac , there is about 20mm difference in the height on the nose between the two models, his takes off smooth and just rotates easy were mine did not but as I said before more take off flap did help.