MAIDEN FLIGHT!!

Well the first flight was an absolute success! Engine was running perfectly, just a click or two of down elevator and about the same of right aileron. Wow! What a sweet flying plane! It really flys more like a .40 size pattern plane than a .25 size. Rolls are a little barrel like so I will add some differential to the ailerons. I will have to do this mechanically since I have just one servo. Landing was uneventful, not the smoothest but we do have a strong crosswind at our field. Trouble began on the second flight, I still am not sure what the promlem was but the engine sagged as soon as I took off so I quickly went to half throttle to try to keep it running but it quit just as I was completing my first turn. Luckily I was high enough to do another 180 and head back down the runway, basicly one lap around the field. Played around with the needle a little bit and she seemed to be running right again on the ground so I gave her another shot. Same thing only this time I wasnt very high when the engine quit. But again, luck was with me and I was able to get her back to the runway although I was landing across it! Ok now its time to figure out whats going on here.. I took the needle valve completely out and blew through the muffler pressure line forcing fuel out the needle valve hole. There must have been a speck of dirt in there or something because after reinstalling the needle, she ran perfectly again. One more flight with no problems. In fact this motor is a SCREAMER!!! Pulls it straight up out of sight! Nice big loops, smooth point and slow rolls, stall turns, all were done with ease. It will hold a knife edge with 3/4 throttle and half the rudder. Inverted needs some down elevator but I do have it a tad bit nose heavy, on purpose for the first flights.
All in all, I am thrilled with this little plane! I wasn't sure if I was even going to keep it because my eyes are getting so bad that I've been trying to stick with .40 and .60 size planes. This is without a doubt the best flying .25 size plane I've ever flown. Glad I kept it!

-Johnny-