I guess if the fuselage is nicely streamlined (not that Paul's airplane isn't :-) the air presentation to the prop isn't that critical. That does leave you with the difference in drag (due to difference in velocity) over the length of the fuselage as the big factor. It doesn't show up in Paul's flying but should in a cruise power comparison where a few mph or fuel flow can be measured.

It certainly indicates that there isn't enough difference in the model world to drive a design.

Mike, I was so looking forward to a short movie of your designs hovering!! -- maybe as a Christmas present for the forum???

CJ - I am not too sure why the pusher design should have inherent pitch stability. Certainly if the horizontal tail is behind the rear prop, and gets the higher dynamic pressure due to that, it would maintain control effectiveness and the tail contribution to stability over a large range of angles of attack from 0 to 90degrees.

But I don't understand where the reaction at the prop comes from that you write about??