Hey Pete:

My SM F-16 1/8 weight was 24.25 pounds and it flew very well.

If you set the CG in 145mm it will be nose heavy, so as Mark said set the elevator for a little trim up. At take off, don't release the elevator stick until you have enough altitude. In my first flight, when I released the stick, the nose came down so I need to give more elevator to keep climbing.

After a few flights, I just learned that for a smooth take off, I set the elevator trim in +12 (cliks) in my Futaba 12FG and for level flight, the trim was back to + 6 clicks. (I was using flapperons).

Some warnings:

During flight, just after take off with tanks full, be careful with steep turns because with CG in 145 mm (UAT full and tanks empty, gear down), the model will dive suddenly. If it happens, just level wings and pull up. Try to make turns close to you and at a safe altitude just to keep track of the model in case of a sudden dive.

When landing, reduce speed to less that 1/2 throttle, and set the trim for level flight with the nose up. Gear down and throttle up to 60%. Set trim again to keep level flight with nose up. When downwind, push a little the throttle up because the jet try to lose altitud a little because airspeed is reduced when you fly downwind, and throttle back again on upwind to keep level flight. (Nose up all the time).

Fly one or two complete patterns until you decide to land. At this moment, just go into final and reduce throttle until the jet starts to descend. With throtle, manage altitud and with elevator manage speed.

And yes, It was my first jet and I decided to fly it by myseld. Why not? I have never flight jets but I am a very experienced flyer.

Set the time in no more than 5 minutes. 2 Litters of kero for a 23 lbs turbine is no too much.

Guillermo