That's the whole key. We can discuss this for years, but unless you build it and fly it, you're guessing.

You start with a solid theory and then test it. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Just keep in mind that pattern planes are all about balance on a razor's edge. if you change one small thing, it affects everything else to some degree. Therefore blanket statements don't really apply, like the cannalizer. While it's been said "this or that plane doesn't need it" it just depends on who's flying it and what thier particular set up is. In a lot of cases especially with the latest wave of planes, you can do just fine without it, and adding one will have a small effect, and in some rare cases, an adverse effect especially if the shape/area/placement isn't quite right. But put one on a plane that is a few years old, and that's where you can REALLY feel the difference.

In my testing the newer extremely tall fuselages tend to have the same effect if the area distribution is right. Shape is everything, and smooth airflow is pretty important. On these planes I don't think the canalizer has nearly as much effect as it does on the older planes (generally speaking). A few of the newer planes MAY have crossed a line into "too big" in which certain other aspects of it's flight characteristics suffer.

Back to the main topic of this thread...I like the way Chip's new plane looks. It's very Osmose-ish, but it has some good lines and interesting features.

Oh well I'm not an expert on this stuff, I've just tried a lot of things. And these are the things I've found thus far. Your results may vary

-Mike