Thanks for the input, Paul!
ORIGINAL: pmw
I just picked up this thread and wanted to give you my experiences. I built this kit when it first came out several years ago. Please listen to Warped Wing! The CG is definitely tail heavy! I built mine exactly per the plan's CG and could not get it on the ground, first flight. I moved the CG forward 1/2 inch and it's still a handful. He's right about the slow speed flight. It will tip stall easily.
I've seen enough folks talk about the CG issue that I'm already planning on STARTING 1//2" or so in front of the plans' suggestion.
As for the slow speed flight, eh...Caps aren't notorious for liking slow speeds ANYWAY, though the light weight should help with that a bit.
Don't know about the new kit, but here's some advice. Mine showed no right engine thrust. With 50 years in the hobby, I should have known better, but... It must have at least 2-3 degrees. Even with that, I had to mix rudder to throttle to get it to stay straight, especially during landing.
I
abhor right thrust in ANY airplane...just absolutely despise it. So, while I appreciate the insight, I'm going to go against the grain on this one. *heh*
My stab was only glued to the top of the fuselage. It won't stay on! I was very lucky to find mine loose just in time. Re-gluing did not help. I finally used flying wires under the stab and it stayed on.
Must admit, I haven't dug deeply yet to see how it'll attach, precisely. I THINK there's a "retainer" now in the kit of some sort. I'll definitely keep eyes peeled here though. Thanks.
I lost my canopy twice during early flights. The wooden mounts will split. I finlly used alum. L brackets threaded to recieve the mounting bolts and it never came loose.
Yeah, wasn't real happy with the engineering there. I doubled up on the wooden tabs, and triangle stocked them. Nice to know my concern was probably justified.
Use dams and cooling baffles in the cowling. I used a Brison 2.4 and had over heat problems. Plugged one inlet and it worked. My buddy just bought and is flying the DL-50. Awesome engine! You'll love it!
This one to me has almost always been a case of "how much do you feel like hacking up a cowl?" vs "how much air do you want?" Experience suggests that this one probably has enough inlet, but will need a LOT of outlet to make it effective...resulting in a pretty seriously hacked up cowl. Obviously, your solution of ducting and baffles would work as well...just going to have to see what I get out of this DL-50, and how much cutting vs ducting there'll be to do.
I used multiple radio mixing and minimum elevator throws to get it tamed. But, it finally became a nice flying airplane. It does not fly like an Extra, so be very careful until you get it all mixed and trimmed.
Good heads-up...I'll keep it in mind.
=================================
Thanks again for the insights, Paul. Hope you'll forgive me if I don't take ALL of them to heart...each pilot's different, I guess, and we all like/dislike different behaviour and traits in our airplanes. *heh* Just know it's not "disrespect", just decision to risk going "against the grain" in some cases, and willingness to eat crow if I'm wrong. *heh*