As many of you know, I just started soloing with my Nexstar. It has 3 days of flying on it. I had a really tough time taking off yesterday, and was wondering if you might have a suggestion. Here's what's been happening:

The first day out I had the speed flaps and the wing droops installed. The plane wanted to take off with just about half throttle; piece of cake. Plane was easy to fly but very slow to respond, and felt very 'floaty'. I removed the training accessories for the second day, in which we were flying into 8mph winds/12mph gusts. My trainer took up the plane and couldn't get it trimmed - couldn't get enough elevator. he had me remove the elevator servo horn and turn it back one click to get some more lift from the elevator I just looked at my plane and realized the elevator push rod is in the farthest hole from the elevator (as well as the farthest hole from the servo which was needed for a 90 degree link). Now it seemed to take off pretty well; obviously it needed more ground speed than with the training gear on, but still take-offs were pretty easy, though the plane had a tendency to make a 10-15 degree right turn (yaw) when it left the ground. It seemed to fly very well. Yesterday, there was little wind. I needed a ton of throttle to get the plane up in the air, as well as 3/4 or more of runway, and the plane was all over the place leaving the ground, most notably a sharp right hand turn (45+ degrees) as it left the ground (engine torque?) The plane flew very well in the sky.
My inexperienced thoughts are to adjust the elevator push rod for more throw and recenter the servo horn, and try to re-trim the elevator. Maybe I just need more up elevator to take off? My instructor the other day was saying that 3/4 throttle should be fine, and I know I haven't seen anyone need nearly as much runway as I've been needing, and I fly a Nexstar!

Thanks for your thoughts.