At last I have a flight report. Weather here in NC has been disappointing the last several weekends. Cold here today only about 40-42 but sunny and nearly no wind! So loaded up the gear and off to the field.

Daytona and the cold had a low turn out at field. I also brought along a new flight bench to test. I really like this bench. Picture below is not what I built but it is nearly the same. I added some wheels to it for mobility. Makes starting and cleaning easier. If your club is looking to spend some money on field equipment get some of these. Material cost is about $65-70 with wheels and axles making up $15 of that.

Did some repair work at the field waiting for someone to show up. I like to have someone there to help me with trim should the plane be way out. Finally someone showed and into the air.

I usually start with elevator on the upside so plane required nearly all the down trim and a few clicks of left. Carb needed some leaning and adjustment as it deadsticked after several passes.

With the carb trimmed in, the Fox 46 spinning an APC 10x7 and the elevator adjusted it was time. Rolls were above medicore speed but certainly not fast. They are pretty flat, I could get three in from normal altitude before dropping too low. Plane flies where you point it, flies like a pattern craft. Loops were tight and inverted flight required just a slight down to hold level.

The roll to opposite rudder does happen. Remember I chopped all the tips off. It does make for some interesting flight.

Flaps. THis is my first plane with flaps. Boy I like it. Craft looks just super on landing! Don't try to deploy flaps att high speed, the pitch up is large but not uncontrollable. At normal flap deployment speed, fast idle on approach, there is a slight pitch up then it settled into a nice slow float to landing. Touch and goes are wonderful! I did not have any real ugly touch and goes but the plane sticks to the ground through all of them.

Tried a knife edge but I'm not sure it could be done. The craft wants to roll opposite the rudder so it is completly different from my Hog Bipe. It needs the right rudder and left airelon. Unaccostumed to the roll I could not hold it. Anyway do not think it will do one anyway.

Plane tracks very well. The flaps are great fun. Rolls are quick enough to keep you interested. Remember I chopped the tips and added a 1/4" to the outside end of the airelons.

Negatives is I do not think it will knife edge. I'll count the rudder-opposite roll tendency in the negatives but a little programming on radio mix should cure this.

Recommendations from hind sight. If you are used to flying low wing craft doing spins, rolls, snap rolls, loops and all the other standard aerrobatic stuff add some extra to the ailerons. Roll rate is just fine for me but I would imagine with the tips and unmodified ailerons it would be to slow.

The conclusion is this is a nice flying bird, tracks true and the flaps are great fun. I can't imagine that a 60 engine would make it much better. My 46 obviously won't hover it but if I had that ability it would be useless as rest of craft is not a 3D machine. Besides I can't 3d anyway! I'm sure I'll enjoy this plane.

Scott