Here are my latest “observations with my “Smith” and the ongoing experiments…..

Now it weighs 6lbs. I don’t have my notes with me. I think it was around 5lb 14oz with the other engine.

I have heard people make reference to this plane being a floater. One thing is for sure theirs and mine don’t fly the same. I about planted it yesterday because I forgot that it is not a floater. I have a 71” stick plane that floats. Lands at walking speed. The “Smith” will fall out of the sky at walking speed. I guarantee it…[]

Anyway, I put another 5 flights on it yesterday. With the right thrust change (reduction to 2.4°) the plane behaved better. On this note the plane was more stable in hard elevator maneuvers and recovery to flat and level was a lot more predictable.

I am inclined to believe some of the differences I am seeing in thrust all of a sudden is that with this engine I am using 12” props and with the other engine 10”.

It is flying funky while inverted. Even at half throttle it tries to climb when I go inverted. So, I will be moving the CG forward from were I have it. Back to the manufacture recommended location. I may also decrease the amount of down thrust.

Late in the afternoon the air went completely calm. Along with having some more stick time with the new configuration, I was able to pull of some nice touch and goes in both directions. Meaning, I am getting use to the new take-off and landing characteristics of the negative wing incidence I now have it set up with. I have always landed this thing with “power on” but now it is a must.

rc_wings
On the note of Props and the ST51…
I have been running a 12X4 for break in and switched to 12X5 yesterday. I am still running it pretty rich. None the less the engine was happy about the switch. Next time I will move up to the 12X6. Sister engine to this one pulled a 13X4 nicely on a 64” 6 1/2 pound-ish Decathlon.