Inverted Figure Eight over the transmitter with the equipment of that day - scares me to death and our officials would have a fit. I am also amazed that Ed kept his airplanes intact over those years. He must have been exacting in inspecting and maintaining his equipment.

Anyway - what is the status of your reconstruction? How close to flying? Only that way will you know for sure. Am I correct in assuming that you have access to a modern version of the Taurus to compare it to (without all the electronic help)? If you have flown that type for a long time you will be able to evaluate the difference.

Have you set out a Flight Test Plan? I guess you would have to compare inside and outside loops with full control inputs as Ed did. You could select points on the proportional transmitter elevator trim lever to correspond to the different trim positions that Ed selected during a contest flight. Even better would be to put a mix in that moved the elevator trim to work on a switch. You would use one trim on takeoff and another when he changed trim upon going inverted. He seemed to have used only the two trim points I think. It would be possible to use a modern proportional system to duplicate the old reed system by "bliping" a shortened control stick. You could always use it to fly true proportional if needed.

You could never use the rudder at the same time as the ailerons.

Trying to duplicate the radio system action as best as you could would show what Ed was looking at when he evaluated the two airplanes.

Sound reasonable?

Ben