Waldo, thanks for the graphic. Oddly, that's precisely the way the Model Tech 300 is built to put a horn on both sides of the elevator, driven by ONE servo. My Voyager Long E-Z has a different method to control the canard, which is really where the "elevator" is, the trailing edge of the canard. They use a rod (imagine the wing rod for the Twist, but longer) but in the middle of the rod they've soldered or brazed an arm, to which a servo in the center of the forward section is connected. That arm drives the elevator on the canard.

Guys, I really blew it. I had a chance to help my best bud lose some weight (like his head) and missed the opportunity. I will NEVER let a man get opposite me on the field again. Breaks all the AMA rules, anyway. We had three of us up at once: mistake #1 if I'm going to do some chancy maneuvers. Then, mistake #2, Down said he was going into the swale so he could get "better" pictures. See the way he lined up me, the bird, and the camera. Would have been really great if I hadn't lost focus, got really scared with Down in the background; engines and birds all over the air. Discombobulation and dumb thumb followed. Result: crash, at speed!--within 15 feet of Down.

I have never seen a big man move so fast--from sitting on his butt. Whoa!

We can laugh now, but I'll never do that again. Stupidity from arrogance/overconfidence. Familiarity breeds contempt.

Great day of flying otherwise: great weather; 5 pilots, 13 birds; 11 birds home safe, 1 virtually destroyed (my 540 Edge), one fixable.

Waldo, I'm ordering the Goldberg 330 Extreme today, 3.5 lbs. It's lighter than the 540 and cheap at 80 bucks. I think I'll put an OS 50SX on her. I'm not willing to invest money in the really big birds yet--and might face divorce, like you, if I did.

[Gary the pic of Down's foamy pross with The Lady is for you. Yeck.]

Fly on,
J