Hal, I know what you mean about the weight, having the engine behind the CG means you start with a handicap already. I can get the six cell 2000 mA ECU pack in the extreme nose and the two radio batteries just behind that and the nose is very long so I hope I don't have to add weight. All the other radio & jet bits are up front too.

Yep, I'm fitting retracts, Robart 630's with some oleos of an old prop driven plane that I planted. Our field has noise issues so I enclosed the engine to try to keep in some of the noise and to make sure the hot engine would not rest on the long grass in case of an off strip landing. Good luck with the maiden, when's that? - John.