I think you missed the part about not launching your plane until the engine had FULLY warmed up and you had made final adjustments.

Try holding on to it and adjust compression and needle until it has run for two to three minutes. As a final adjustment, lower compression, then increase until it runs smooth. Make a final adjustment to the needle. You can get off a couple of clicks rich and still have most of your power. If it is too lean it will just quit.

From that flight, you can try a little more or less compression and needle for better running. Remember your running compression setting when you need to change compression for starting. My limited experience with Aerodyne is similar to Jim's...exhaust clear to straw.

Don't be so impatient about launching that plane before you have it running right. Remember, your running setting will vary a bit with different props.

George