Maiden Flight

My maiden flight was sweet. The DPM PA18 flies great!!! Sorry no photos at this time because I made my maiden flights without the cowl. I am waiting to receive a flexible exhaust to maintain scale appearance (didnt want large muffler sticking out)

My plane has a Saito 120 and I am using 20 oz tank. I had to place a 3000 Mah battery under the tank to get the plane to balance out at the recommended value.

Flight Conditions: No wind, 32 degrees (maine)

Take Off:

Uneventful and very scale. 1/2 Throttle. Tail comes quickly. Aplly slight back pressure and the Cub flies itself off nicely.

Cruise:

For those wondering if the 120 is too small. Dont worry. The airplane flies very well on the 120. The most common mistake by pilots flying scale planes is that they fly their planes TOO FAST. This is especially true of Cub pilots. Even with the little 120 I had to throttle back to around 1/4 throttle to fly this handsome bird at scale speeds. Dont be scared to slow this plane up.

Approach:

For a Cub, this airplane is fairly clean. It does not bleed off airspeed as quickly as other cubs. Slowing the Cub on approach is the key to a good landing. A fast approach will result in overshooting your touchdown. No flap approaches are very stable. I would suggest mixing a little down elevator if you plan on using the flaps.

Slips:

This airplane slips as well as the real plane. As you turn final slowly add opposite rudder and a wonderful slip will develop. It doesn't get any more real than this.

Landing:

This airplane is a dream to land. Wheel landings and 3 points are very easy to do. Remember, you must slow this bird down to fly a proper 3 point landing. That stick should be in your belly, I mean your elevator thumb should be all the way back as your Cub stalls in its 3 point position a 1/2 inch above the ground. If your a little too fast you will ballon or you will bounch. Slow her up and stall it on and you will score a 10 every time.

Loops:

Very scale at reduced power settings. I even had to throttle the 120 back a little when doing scale loops.

Stall Turns:

Excellent!!!! My Cub tracked perfectly strait on the vertical. She hung their beautifully as I kicked the rudder in. She reversed direction on point and recovered with ease.

Spins:

Very scale and recovers with ease as release rudder and elevator inputs. Rotation ends in a 1/2 turn.

Rolls:

Not much to say here except to say it rolls like a cub. You will need rudder.

Conclussion:

A Great ARF. I really loved the quality of the aircraft. The struts and gear are a masterpiece. Throw out the screws used to mount the strut fittings to the fuselage floor. They are very weak and will twist off if you are not very careful. Flies as well a 1/3 scale Balsa USA. It is worth the price tag. Hesitate no longer. Go get one.

I will send some pictures when I some nice scale shots. My flying season in Maine is coming to an end so it may not be until next season.

Scott