I'm just about to get my first warbird. Been flying for 7yrs.

It's a Giant Scale Byron Mustang. I'm kind of struggling with the motor choice. either the original Byron 50 with the reduction drive unit, or a G-62 with a mick Reeves reduction unit.

There are only a few major concerns with any warbird. You'll have to carry good speed for take-off and landing. Warbirds are typically heavily wing loaded, so it takes more speed to keep them in the air. You can't just pull the throttle back to idle and glide it in. You'll have to fly it in under power and get it lined up over the runway before you back off completely on the throttle.

If your using flaps:
Lets say you miss your landing, and your going around for another shot at it. Roll on the throttle and get your flying speed up again. DO NOT bank the wing hard over and pull back on the elevator. You'll loose all your lift and the plane will stall into the dirt. When the flaps are down, easy on the turns. Fly it gently and smooth. Flaps cause drag--keep the power up.

Drop your gear on your downwind leg. That way you can SEE it come down. Or, drop your gear while doing a low flyby. Just be sure that it's down and locked before you come in for a landing.

If your gear should fail--lets say only 1 main comes down:
Retract that gear. Pull it back up. Better to land it LEVEL on the belly and tear up some covering and sheeting--than to land it on 1 wheel and risk a cartwheel. Cartwheels don't usually turn out too well.

Maintanence, Maintanence, Maintenance Same as any giant scale plane. I check the servo screws, horns, pushrods, batteries every flight on my other giant planes. Gas engines vibrate a lot. Loctite is your friend.

Warbirds are not for the lazy flier who just wants to put it together and fly it every weekend without checking it out all the time. If you want to build it and fly it untill it crashes--get a Stick or a Kadet Senior.