Awesome info Daryl. Doesn't look to be any real issues with balance... altho users MIGHT need to move a little more weight up front if they use a standard muffler...

I know what you mean about the tailwheel... is is aweful low for the plane (though really nice) as the rudder will drag if you climb steeply on takeoff.

One more question Daryl... What prop are you using on your DA and what RPM's are you getting... on other words just how much more power are we talking with the canister?


For those wanting more info:

I have recieved mine and gave it a quick looking over. Built very much like the DV, which is a good thing. I do miss the canopy/hatch latch used on the DV and may have to order one from Hobby Lobby and install it. The trim scheme does in fact peel off cleanly leaving an all white plane on top and all red on bottom. With the exception of the nose in frn of the canopy... it's seamed, but you could easily leave the red&black on there and the turtledeck and come up with something quite nice... I intend on stripping all the covering off mine and doing a completely custom scheme. The cowl will need sanded and repainted, but the pants look as if the trim colors are applied covering that have been clear coated over. Sanded a little it should come right off too leaving white pants ready for paint...

The gear is in two pieces and slips into slots into the fuse, then are bolted in place and then a "scab" piece is bolted to hold the two together. I'm going to look to see if there is a CF gear out there that could be cut in half and use here.

The rudder looks identical to the DV, but the elevator stabd (ehich LOOK the same are designed a bit different. There is a center "HUB" that sticks out on each side of the plane 1/2" or so... then the stab tubes and stabd slide up against this instead of the fuse. Might make it a little more sturdy than the DVs elevator setup (though I haven't had any problems with mine anyway)

As I mentioned earlier, there are pull-pull cable slots under the covering if you need to go that route... other wise a tail mounted rudder servo is the way to go. All in all a sweet looking plane, built light but strong.

Really sweet wing attachment. Two "lugs" screw into each wing... these become the anti-rotation pins too... they have grooves in them and when the enter the fuse they insert into aluminum blocks with a giant set screw. The set screw sets intot he grooves and locks them in place nicely. No loose bolts to store or tight areas to get them in and out of... the set screw slots face straight up out the fuse top for easy access.

I measured the wing area and I come up with 1420... not the advertised 1300... So it seems to have more wing area than most of the other 50cc offerings and looks as if it will indeed come in between 15.5 and 16.5 lbs... gotta love that.