<VBG>

Well, Joe, we'll see how it goes. I just happened upon a great deal locally for a ready to go Hydeout/YS 140/JR Digitals- the whole setup and the plane is in great shape. I just dropped my receiver in, put in a fresh battery and fuel and went out and flew it today for the first time.

I figure I'll try to make it to the contest in Northern Virginia this weekend since it is right down the road. Hopefully I'll get a few more flights in this week and try not to embarrass myself too much...... after that- who knows?

To all who have offered some direction, thank you very much. It was all very helpful.

As a guy who has flown mostly giant scale/IMAC, here are some random thoughts after taking my first few flights on a pattern aircraft.

Very smooth. VERY quiet. Power to weight is WOW! Accelerating on a vertical upline is fun! Plane flies great. Faster than I am used to.

Plane is small. I think I may need to get my eyes checked again (seriously- the visual thing is going to take some adjustment- especially with the speed.) Compared to my 40% Extra 260, I am not yet sure it is any smoother or easier to fly (it was windy today). Required more wind correction than I am used to. For some reason I was expecting it to be less of an issue than a big IMAC plane. Easy to take off. Harder to land (doesn't slow down like my IMAC planes).

My goals? I have often thought that I may have moved up in class faster than I should have in IMAC and that I need to fly with a bit more discipline, I am hoping that I can go back and pick some of that up by flying the pattern planes. I like that it fits in both of our vehicles and I sure enjoy being able to load and unload in a few minutes.

Talk to you later. Hope to see you at a contest sometime.

Dave