Well I flew again last night with much more success. Still having some problems getting it up in the air, but once flying it seems better.

I reduced the control sensitivity on the rudder by moving the control rod from middle to end hole on the horn. I tried reducing elevator sensitivity in the same way but then I could not get sufficient climb out at the beginning so it is now back to the middle.

I am having someone do the hand launches and it does seem to be critical as to technique. The launcher has to take a couple of trot steps, hold the plane high, launch at an up angle of about 30 deg. with good speed but not like throwing a baseball. The pilot must give the plane full throttle and full up elevator.

Most important the plane must be launched perfectly level. The launch combination of slow airspeed (little air on wings dihedral to keep in level) an high prop wash on the full up elevator makes the plane turn toward the low wing side if the plane isn't level.

As soon as the plane picks up a little speed you can take out some of the up elevator and climb out nicely. Once up 30-50 ft you can trottle back a little and start slow turns. Turning at mid throttle with just a little up elevator is smooth and nice. High throttle maneuvers are touchy. If you shut down the motor and glide the controls are actually quite numb and take lots of input.

This confirms to me the complex relationship between prop speed, air speed, and control sensitivity. What I don't know is how much worse pusher prop planes are in this regard as compared to conventional front prop plane. Any comments?

BTW the manual does recommend beginners start with take offs from ground. I wonder if this is the reason, in that reasonable roll on the ground would get some air speed for the wings and assure a level launch.

Bob