Just when I thought I had my Synergy sorted out, more problems arise...

I was running through the advanced pattern today on the first flight of the day when I noticed my throttle idle setting was higher than normal... I slowed up and did a couple of slow passes to see if I could slow it down enough to land but I decided I could not get it down in the small field we fly off (well not without hitting the fence at the other end..) I tried pulling the trim right back but still to fast - Nothing major but it meant I would have to fly the full tank of fuel. so I carried on flying making sure not to use the throttle too much as I figured the linkage had come loose and the last thing I wanted for a tail flutter prone aircraft was to stuck on full throttle!
Well eventually vibration caught up with the linkage and slowly the throttle was opening with no control. It started getting interesting! I was flying big circuits to use the fuel up and have plenty of time for a dead stick landing but as the model was getting faster the tail reached a point where it decided to flutter. It was rather violent and I thought I was going to loose my model (for the third time..) It was headed down towards the ground at a rapid rate but I was able to pull out of it and slow down enough to stop the flutter. I had to fly in very tight circles to keep the speed from climbing and use up all the fuel.
I was too scared to try pusing the throttle right foward as I thought it may stick on full instead of just above half as it was...
Finally after about 6 minutes of circling the motor stopped and I was able to glide in for a safe landing.

I haven't checked out the throttle problem - that is simple, just change the linkage to one that won't come loose!

As for the more annoying problem of tail flutter... I am not sure what I will do - I have already changed all the linkages and horns and there is no play in the linkages - there is a slight amount in the JR DS-811 servo gears but that shouldn't be a problem. I expect better from $120.00 servos..
I find it hard to justify buying more expensive servos for a .90 sized model.

The elevator that was fluttering is slightly dammaged at the point where the counter balance comes foward - It had been previously repaired from the first tail flutter incident. I think I will make up a solid balsa stab and elevators to try to stop this... I will also add carbon tubes to the pushrods to try to stiffen them up a bit.

Has anyone else fixed their tail flutter problems? If so what did you do?

and has anyone lost a model in the last couple of months due to tail flutter??

Patrick