Yo Nathan.......Outstanding !! That's what I call a really great first flight. I can only hope my buddy does as well on his.

We got the canopy on (he gave up on dying it, says he likes it better clear), and I put on the stablizer, fin, and tail wheel on yesterday (he bought a Sullivan assembly to replace the one that came with the plane). He decided to try screwing the belly pan on and bought some 4-40 brass threaded "receiver nuts" which we tried screwing into the fuselage. Couldn't get blind nuts in because the plywood reinforcing inside got in the way. They turned out to be a pain in the butt...wouldn't thread straight and the hex bolts got cross threaded in two of them. I'm going to reinforce them with epoxy today and then re-tap them. If that doesn't work, it's back to "plan A", and epoxy the belly pan to the wing.

The plastic fairing over the stablizer turned out great. He used some of the extra material and covered it so it really matches the plane. I've got the radio gear, servos, control rods and horns to do on the rudder and elevator, but that shouldn't take long.

He's working on the cowling and engine installation (he's got a Saito 100). He bought a "Pitts style" muffler from Davis Diesel, but it won't work. They told him it would fit inside the cowling and would bolt right onto his engine....it doesn't do either. I looked at it yesterday and think if I turn the stock muffler to a certain angle, I can get the whole thing to fit in the cowling. He'll just need an extension to pass thru and out the bottom (He's mounting the Saito sideways and wants the exhaut to go out the bottom). I've got some 90 degree rubber type exhaust deflectors, but they're flimsy. I hope he can find one in metal....

Tell your brother to "give up" his damn camera!!

B