Well, the airplane is all built and is completely stock except for one detail. I decided I didn't like the clear canopy since there is no cockpit, instrument panel, or pilot figurine in the plane. I elected to go with a blacked-out canopy instead of clear, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

I'm getting a little concerned that my Pitts 40 project is jinxed. First, one of my brand-new Hitec HS-81 servos for the ailerons had a "hitch" in it right out of the box. I've never had a new servo that was bad, and especially not a Hitec servo. I got it replaced, however, and it was easy enough to overcome that little problem.

I took it out to the air field to break it in and tune it so I could give my Pitts 40 it's maiden flight. My brand new Thunder Tiger GP-42 broke a couple of minutes into it's first tank! I've never had a new engine go south like that on me, either. I opened up the high speed needle to run plenty rich before dialing it in to just-rich-of-peak; it's an ABN ringless design, so this is per the normal break-in instructions as outlined in the owner's manual. I was turning it from 1/4 turn too rich back to just rich-of-peak and back when the connecting rod broke after about two minutes of run time.

It's better to have these components fail on the ground than during the maiden flight, but it's still very disappointing to have stuff breaking from two of my favorite vendors. I ordered another GP-42 and I'll keep the repaired/replaced engine once I get it back from Ace Hobby. It's just bizarre having problems with parts selected specifically because they should have been problem-free.

Long story short, I still don't have a flight report. My Thunder Tiger Pitts 40 ARF is definitely turning heads out at the flying field. Even with a broken engine bolted to the front of it, I was still getting a lot of compliments. I just can't wait to finally get it up in the air!