ORIGINAL: KevinVogt

Hi guys,

I have been following this thread for a few months, but have been gleaning info from this thread without posting. Because of the information that I have learned, I think I have built an amazing airplane. I just finished installing a DA-50 and maidened it today with the DA. What an amazing piece of machinery. I previously had an OS 1.60 FX on her and made the switch to the DA after 18 flights. I made three flights today and I am delighted with my new DA. I propped her with a Mejzlik 23x8 and used the stock spinner. And now the flight report:

I throttled up to about half throttle and lifted off in about 30 feet. Two clicks of up and one click of left trim and she was flying straight and level. After a couple circuits around the field, I decided to see how her vertical performance is. At 1/4 throttle, I pulled to vertical, throttled to full and started aileron rolls... unlimited... started flying out of sight so I throttled back to idle and dropped back down to normal pattern level and made a few slow passes to see how it flys slow and it sinks a little more than with the OS. I then did a little pattern work to see how touch-and-go's feel. It need slightly more airspeed than the OS at landing to keep it from starting to drop just before touch down. I did six touch-and-go's and then brought her in. With the DA it doesn't bounce like it did with the OS. It is actually easier to land with the DA than with the OS. First flight lasted 10 minutes and 40 seconds. With the stock 24 oz. tank it took 118 cranks with a hand crank fueler to fill the tank, and only 36 cranks to refuel. It used about 1/3 of the tank in almost 11 minutes of flight time.

I flew all three flights with low rates to get a feel of how it responds now. Tomorrow, I will try the high rates...

Until then, thank you to all who took the time to upload pictures and give advise. I am in your debt.

Kevin