I put a new Magnum 120 four stroke on mine. After brench running the engine I'm able to get 8,800 rpm with an APC 16 X 4 wide prop running rich on 15% fuel. Once the engine breaks in complety I'll see what rpm the engine will peek out at. I may try a APC 17 X 4 wide with a different percentage fuels and see what rpm's are there. Of course I'll need a taller landing gear for this prop. This will have to wait till the Spring as it's getting cold and windy here in New England.

With the rudder servo mounted under canopy I balanced right at the recommended 7 1/8 inch CG mark. The plane weighted in at just over 9 pounds. The first two flights were with a slight wind. The plane was just stable enough to track straight. The nightmare started when I tried to land. Every time I throttled to idle the plane would balloon into the wind and almost stall. I had to add power to recover and come around again. I was finally able to land with power and down elevator.

Back at the workshop I added six oz. on the engine mounting box and a TruTurn spinner. It now balanced out a 6 1/2 inches CG at 9 ½ pounds. I had three flights in light wing (5-10 MPH) and what a difference. It flew as if it was on rails and the landing was no problem at all.

As far as setting the CG my recommendation is to add the extra nose weight to get it to fly the way you want it for normal flying just to get use to the plane. After you are comfortable with the CG start rearranging the equipment to get ride of the excess lead, i.e. rudder servo mounted under canopy, Battery and engine servo as far forward as possible. I will now be moving my battery pack and engine servo into the cowl.

To get back to the recommended CG for 3D flying you can then remove any excess nose weight or add a little tail weight.

I'm still hoping for decent flying weather befoe it gets too cold.