Thanks Ralph just a long shot that you were a fellow competitor from long ago

The whole point in the spring systems is to eliminate near half of the air plumbing and the complex distributor air valve for just a simple dump valve. Any attempt at half way would be pointless you would still have to go back to the complex valve and all those extra lines every one of which is a additional potential failure point.

If you have an airleak it will be obvious in flight as the gear will hang down the procedure is simple do a high G turn and flip the gear switch to down to dump any remaining air the G will lock the gear.

Any time a gear lock is in doubt mearly do a steep turn and trigger the gear down when you are pulling up elvator. Unless there is a mechanical hangup it will lock every time.

Ralph I built both 38's from wing short kits as the are the best of the best flying 38's in that size (a Hal Parenti design) Built specifically for Warbird pylon racing and I raced them for two seasons, What great fun. Both have TT.46's The Red one was lost to a mid air late in the second season.

Congratulations on the Nats win.

John