Some of you may remember about three years ago I had built a KJ66 and had it running. I started building a simple ply and balsa sport jet for it two winters ago, but over the past year and a half my time for modeling jets was not happening. So, I finally got the thing finished and ready to fly this week. Tonight I maidened it, and it flew pretty darn good!

I named it the "Lesjet" - it is a very inexpensive ply box fuse, balsa tail (glassed and painted) with foam core wings I had cut and then sheeted with wood veneer and monokoted. The retracts are bought (Valley mold) but the struts and wheel & brakes I machined myself, with Trim tires.

The wingspan is 62", length is 80" and the weight is 21 lbs dry. My KJ66 is putting out between 16 and 17 lbs thrust at 120K rpm.

My flying partner Dan Nadeau got most of the flight on tape. In a nutshell, it took off smoothly and without any issue in about 400 feet off our grass strip. Once in the air, I immediately realised i Had way too much aileron and elevator (especially elev) throw. I went to my low rates which gave me just the right aileron but still too much elevator. I trimmed it out (needed some down elev, thats it) and it will fly across the sky smooth and stright without inputs. Turns are smooth and without loss or gain in altitude. I tried a roll (crisp and fast and axial) but not any looping maneuvers as I was not going to push my luck with the overly sensitive elevator.

After 5 minutes I set it up and on my glide path decided to kill the turbine (which was operating wonderfully!) and see how it would glide. Well, it glides really well! I set it down long and ran off the runway into the long grass. Just bent my struts a little. The nose gear I bent back and the mains I will replace with solid legs. My home made aluminum shock absorbing legs bent at the retract blocks and I dont think they are necessary anyhow. The plane didnt bouce at all on take off or landing.

I only used a litre of fuel in 5 minutes! I was flying mainly at 1/2 throttle on my KJ66 - I can carry 3 litres so a 10 minute flight will be possible.

I only went to full power on take off. I did work the retracts a few times, but didnt want to try a high speed pass wheels up with the elevator set so touchy.

Dan will process the video and pics and send them to me, then I will post them. But I am off to NEw York for a holiday right after work tomorrow, so I wont get to put them up untill I return.

I am pumped to FINALLY get both this plane, but mainly my home built KJ66 actually flying... its a rush I wont forget for some time. I love the fancy ARF composite jets, but let me tell you flying your own stuff you hand made is a feeling you cant buy with any amount of $$...

AJC