Another Impact flies! Mine went to a contest this weekend with 7 flights going into it. It felt comfortable enough from the first that I just decided to stay with it. It's the White/red version with trim painted using PPG Concept colors from Radio South. It's powered by a 160 DZ swinging a 17X12 APC prop. It came out right at 11 lbs. -- that could be trimmed down by replacing some pieces with lighter materials but it will probably stay where it is. The plane flies very nicely -- I set up the incidences as described earlier in this or one of the other two threads by using the 45mm difference between the bottom front of the fuselage (at the opening for the enigine cowl) and the tail. The post I copied used a 2 mm spacing between the table and the same front spot, and a 47 mm block under the tail. I just let my front touch the table and blocked the tail up 45mm; (re)set stab at 0 using the rear pins; initially set the wing at 0 to have a starting point -- then added what I think was 1/2 turn positive to each Gator adjuster (the adjusters are 6" either direction from the wing tube); and used the face of the fuselage spinner ring as reference for the engine placement. It has all the enhancements/improvements put in as described in the various postings -- mine was purchased before any of these were put in or included with the kit. The DEPS system was used for elevator control. The balsa tube/pushrod supports were tied in to the Depron foam "ladder." The ladder is glued to the front of the first brace that was recommended. The front of the ladder overlaps the tray for the rudder servo which was made big enough to carry forward of the TE of the wing. All done in an effort to minimize open places for stress to concentrate and flex/fracture the fuselage. A diagonal bulkhead was also added about 1/2" inch behind and parallel to the rear of the canopy opening. A vertical brace was added in the fin to stiffen the top of it -- placed somewhat aft of the point where the fin would go horizontal toward the hingeline. A new rudder was built from ribs and balsa sheeting (similar to another posting) -- the tailpost was also replaced with a conventional balsa post. The counter-balance was cut off the composite rudder and glued to the top of the fin (mostly to maintain the Impact look). At this point there seems to be enough rudder without it moving, also. Naturally the new rudder is lighter than the composite rudder. Using the wings-off method to balance it, I have started with the CG at the center of the wing tube -- the battery pack is right behind the wing tube. The one thing I have not done yet is to laterally balance it -- I remember there being a difference between the wing weights when I first got the box, but wanted to wait on that until after flying it some and to see how the airplane "sees" the wings. With the above setup I needed about 2 JR beeps of down and one or two of some aileron -- don't remember which way. On the first flight I was prepared for the worst with all the tales of a twisted wing panel, tails coming off, and who knows what else… The way it is set up does require a tiny amount of down elevator mixed with low throttle; and I don't have the Knife Edge mixing quite right yet -- but I can say that it won't take much in the end. It was not bad enough to cause problems for the limited amount of time we are in that attitude so it hasn't been a high prioity. Engine issues have consumed airplane time that might have been otherwise spent flying. Those seem to be in stage where I can get on to the busioness of tweaking the plane now.

Control throws were borrowed from postings and then cut down. The differential may have to be tweaked -- sometimes I think I see the airframe being displaced in the direction of the roll. Not sure… need more time on it… Not satisfied with the snap rolls -- this is not to say that it does not snap well -- it just means I don't have it set up so that it snaps the way I think it should.

The plane has shown me how much potential it has -- I just have to learn to use it now!

Yeah, it shrieks...

Many thanks to the many post-ers who solved problems and in several cases responded directly to my questions. Everyone's words and pictures helped enormously. It only took what seemed like forever to get it finished off because of other things jumping in ahead of it. I don't have a digital camera or I would post a picture of it (after I get the name put on it…..)

Good Flying to all!
Tom