Okay, the good news is that I took my Aerobird up for its first three flights today, and the first two went marvelously. The sim training helped, I think, although FMS doesn't really indicate the speed these things move at. Hardest part of the first couple of flights was getting the thing down for a landing.

Then came flight 3. I figured I'd swap in my 7-cell battery as I was concerned the standard battery would be running low on charge.

Alas, I think a combination of a CG shift and a not-quite-100% closed canopy screwed things up, and a few seconds after the launch I augered in.

The good news is that I did so without a bit of visible physical damage to the Aerobird.

The bad news is that, after the crash, the left elevon cable was pulled very tight, and the elvon is cocked up tightly at a 30-degree angle. Trying to pull the cable a bit didn't loosen it. Playing with the controls, the right elevon seems find, but the left doesn't appear to be moving.

Anyone ever had this problem before? Hoping to hear the voice of experience before I risk screwing this thing up. Is there a new fuselage in my future?