Well, it's official. It's airborne. Today marked the completion of this winters project and hopefully many more fun flights ahead for the summer. It was a picture perfect day, though a bit windy. I got to the field about 10:00 just in time for the wind to pick up. After assembling everything we fired up the engine and my friend Chuck took the controls. I manned the video camera. After a few test runs down the runway this Pitts took to the air and I was thrilled to death. She flew great! I should add that all the thread comments about flight characteristics were right on.

Chuck said the Fuji 50 had plenty of power and she was gentle on the controls in flight. Landing, well, that was another story. On the first attempt Chuck came in high and cut the throttle and let the nose drop. She dropped like a rock. I mean a real rock. Chuck went to WOT and without any hesitation he recovered after a solid bounce on the runway. Landing gear remained intact. On the next attempt Chuck brought her in with power and then cut the throttle right over the threshold. She bounced heavy again but all was intact for a successful maiden flight.

The wind picked up after that so I waited until the end of the day before I decided to take the controls. After getting up the courage to give it a try I decided to go for it. I manned the prop for the start and flipped, flipped and flipped until I gave out. Where is the Megatron starter that has been on back order for three weeks? After several attempts she just wouldn't fire for a second run. Well, maybe I just wasn't supposed to get a crack at her this day. At least she went home intact ready for another day.

When I got home I rigged up my 3/8ths drill with a spinner cup (Another thread idea), and tomorrow I will let the drill to the darn prop flipping until the Megatron comes in. I have to say that a flywheel generated spark is not for hand flipping, period. Once again RCU threads prove to be true. Go figure....