Here's a picture of my latest project, a Dirty Birdy 60 from the Bluejay kit.

The kit was beautiful. Good wood and excellent machine cutting, nothing damaged in packing or shipping.

Construction went almost without a hitch. The only problem encountered was that the plans appear to have the wing at the wrong incidence. Instructions and printed text on the plans say 1/32" - 1/16" positive incidence on the wing but the plans (and I understand that these are the original Bridi plans) have the wing at 7/32" positive and the parts are cut exactly to plans. I came out with exactly 7/32" positive incidence. You are expected to adjust the incidence and work the wing saddle to fit, but after doing that the wing didn't line up with the wing dowel holes in the former. No problem, I just plugged them and redrilled. I think the answer is to wait until you set the wing incidence before drilling these holes.

I don't know if the original kit had the cutouts already done for the stab and the fin, but this kit didn't. Not a problem, just interesting. A quick tracing of the fuse aft end, stacking the sides and a trip to my band saw took care of the stab cutout. When I went to install the fin, the instructions said to insert the fin into the slot. Slot, what slot? Again, not a problem. Just marked a center line and quickly cut the needed slot.

Other than that, every thing fit perfectly and it was a joy to build. I love carving balsa to shape and this had plenty of carving to satisfly me.

While the Magnum .65 wasn't my first choice for power, or even my fourth choice, it was free and unused. Yes, retracts and a hot, piped engine would be gravy but this plane is still solid meat and potatoes. I also opted for MonoKote instead of glassing the fuse. Sure, it'll be more prone to hangar rash but this is purely a sport plane for me and this was quick and easy.

The plane turned out a little nose heavy but a battery compartment in the tail compensated for that and all up flying weight is 6 lbs, 2 oz.

The DB made it's first trip to the field today and I must say that I was impressed! After the initial trim settings, I spent some time making long level passes. The plane looks great in the air and really holds attitude without fiddling the sticks. A few half reverse cuban eights, loops and cuban eights and I was starting to get a feel for the plane. Rolls are very smooth but I need a little more throw on the ailerons yet. Vertical lines both up and down hold straight and true with no tendency to pull out and from level flight it pulls up to a perfect vertical line. Then try some some stall turns. Wow, how sweet!

The first day at the field was cut short when the engine started sounding funny. I landed and found the back half of the muffler barely holding on. I hadn't thought to remove the bolt and lock nut and locktite them. Luckily I got it down before I lost anything.

So tonight I'll up the aileron throws, tighten and locktite the muffler bolt and this baby is going to see a lot of flying this fall!

Dave