First of all check your plane before you start. Someone I know well who should know better managed to reverse aileron servos last week (despite the leads being marked to prevent such an occurence) then compounded the error by not checking direction.

Good flights start with good takeoffs. If the plane starts to veer on the takeoff run resist the temptation to try and haul it into the sky (many don't). Chop the throttle and start again. Apply power slowly on your take off roll, this will make the plane easier to control. The Hi Boy is a POS for ground handling, so anything you have will probably be better.

Spanky's advice on stick movements is good, from a nice straight run ease the plane up (don't **** reef it off as my instructor expained it to me on a number of occasions)

Climb out straight and get some height before starting what should be a gentle turn into your pattern (BTW, good to have a plan of what you want to achieve before take off). I suggest some gentle oval circuits for the first flight, leave the Lomcevaks until second time up

Try and figure in advance how you are going to land, pick out some markers to help you line up your landing approach.

Just a few thoughts, hopefully others will jump in with more.

Good luck and let us know how you go,


Terry