Had a gorgeous weekend here in the Seattle-area and I was able to get the maiden flight in on the Venus II! YS .91 was running a tad on the rich side (on PowerMaster 20/20 it was swinging an APC 15x8 at just around 9K with plenty of smoke at full-throttle). As stated previously, everything was assembled as the instructions recommend-- except for the tank which was mounted on the C.G. Dry weight is right around 8lbs. Other than forgetting to check the amount of control-throw against the manual (ailerons had a bit too much throw), the flights went beautiful!

"Smooth" is about the best word that I can use to describe how the plane flies. Point it in a direction and it just goes! Overall highlight was the knife-edge capability-- it's almost too easy! Yes, there is a little coupling (pulls toward the gear, like most planes) but I didn't even bother to mix it out. Low-speed flight has absolutely no surprises... I went dead-stick on a slow, low pass for the camera (I never did adjust the low-speed needle for the different prop that I am running now) and the plane just gently settled to the runway without a hint of tip-stalling. Rest of the flights were like guiding an arrow around the skies.

Here at sea-level the .91 is plenty of engine for the plane. Vertical was not unlimited, but I am sure that with a little tuning (and maybe some 30% nitro) that would easily change! Besides, I am not even running a 3D prop! I am sure that a YS 1.10 or O.S. 1.20 would pull this thing like a freight-train.