Thought I'd report on my test flights. The Venus came out at 5.48 lbs, or 87,7 oz. RTF, no fuel. CG was set per GP's manual (didn't know about the 'tech notice'), travels were set at the high rates.

Flight performance was a little 'nose heavy', but with the OS 70 Surpass, it was completely capable of the whole Masters' class, plus a good bit of P03...it flies a little faster than I'm accustomed to, but it is very stable and honest.

Snap and spin damping is super! If you blink, the snaps are over. And it stops where you want it. Partial snaps, and knife edge snaps are easy to stop.

NO Mix was required. Unless slowed, then some pitching was happening.

Then I found out about the GP error in the manual on how to measure the CG point. Set up stock means almost 1/2" nose heavy....so I fixed that...and it will be a dramatic difference.

For a "throw in the van, and keep assembled" Pattern knockaround for the fall/winter, I don't think I could have wanted a more capable bird. Plus, it is CHEAP to get airborne.

Overall, I'd rate it pretty highly....don't know if it would be suitable for "real" competition, but for practicing, and staying sharp, it will do those things.

Glad to hear about your Venus performance, Bob.

I just bought one of those myself, and am putting a "mini-review" of it on my web site, at http://www.nextcraft.com/gp_venus40arf01.html ...Lots of photos, for people thinking about getting one, etc..

I'll be building it today (10-06-02) and tomorrow, and expect to fly it this coming week. (I'm doing mine "stock", with an OS .46FX.)

Bob - You mentioned that the CG setup in the manual was incorrect. Where should the CG be set?

ON GP's Support site, they have the "new" manual for this, and it keeps the same 4 5/8" measurement, but measures from the front of the wing where the WING MEETS THE FUSE SIDE, instead of an extended line of the leading edge to centerline. I have not flown it with the change, but a 1/2" change on this small of a wing is a LOT. It is clearly diagrammed in the new v.101 manual on the GP website.

Another way to say this is, the correct CG according to the new revision is 8 1/4" forward from the trailing edge of the wing at the fuse side.

I was having to put in more up elevator trim than I thought should have been needed (it was still less than a 1/16"), and the inverted elevator sensitivity wasn't quite up to snuff....so maybe the new CG will improve that and be better.

Moving it aft like this WILL induce some belly pitching, so maybe it won't be so good, but I'll report back.....

Just checked out the new v1.1 manual and it tells us to measure from the wing LE where it meets the fuselage when assembled not the actual dowel plate - is this what you meant?

I CG'd my Venus at this point when I built it before and it was still somewhat noseheavy.

Whats the farthest back any of you had your CG wnen measured from the LE at the fuselage?

See my edited post....sorry I was unclear in how I stated that...and I added an easier reference; the trailing edge of the wing....Thanks for pointing it out!

Hello All, we helped a friend test fly one a while back and it was real sweet ! Flew on rails and did most manuvers well, we put a larger prop (12 1/4x 3 3/4 APC) on it and did some decent hoveing and TRing too ! Really a very good flyin and nice lookin plane - we give it a big :thumbup: for sure !! Have FUN , Rod & Chris in PA.