So I am not a real beginner, I have been flying for 3 seasons and part of a forth, but until today I have never dared to maiden one of my planes. That changed today. About 5 years ago I got into the building side of the hobby, the second plane I built was a Great Planes .40 Corsair, my all time favorite fighter. For five years it has been hanging up in my house. I started on a PT 40, mastered that, then moved to a 4 Star .60 with OS .91 FS in the front. I was always told that a Corsair is a third airplane at the earlest, so after feeling very good with a low wing tail dragger it was time to get the Corsair in the air.

I started couple of failed attempts with the Cosair, found some basic problems with construction the first trip to the field and had to pack it in, the second time I could not get the engine to keep running for more than a minute or so. I changed the motor, changed the fuel set up and all fuel lines and had it ready to go for today.

It is a bit damp up in Toronto today, but zero wind and moderate temps, as good a day as you can get to maiden a plane. A bit of light rain held me up but once it cleared it was time to go. Engine (OS 46 FX) jumped to life right away, tuning was easy, did a complete check of the plane and took it to the runway. There was no wind so I had my choice of take off direction, I started down bringing the power up slowly, the tail lifted off, then after a few more feet I touched the elevator and she jumped into the air. Did not need much trim, but got it set up doing a few circuits and some approaches, the plane flys well, it needs some rudder turning to keep the nose on the right line - that will take some time to get used to. First landing approach is solid, no problems getting the plane on the ground and up in the air again. My second approach was not as good, the plane went long on the approach, I needed to power up fast and go around, when I hit the power the plane veered to the left, and was headed in the direction of spectators, not in the best of my control, I made the decision to ditch the plane in a split second and took the power right off, hoping that I would be able to crash softly in the light brush at the end of the runway, the plane veered on me again doing what the spectators called a knife edge about 6 inches from the ground - not a move a Corsair is known for. Then somehow it got into the right orientation and I was able to apply power and pull out of a disaster, did a circuit and landed with no issues. Thinking about what happened I think I may have done a tip stall just before I put the power up to do my go around, and I was very lucky.

Second flight: Take off was a bit premature, the plane tip stalled, I over corrected and barely kept it flying. I ran a few circuits as the wind started to pick up, did a solid approach and landed, the plane nosed over on the landing, but no dammage at all.

Overall it was fun to do my first maiden!

Analysis of the plane:

1 - I am ready to fly it, but it will take some time to get more comfortable with it.
2 - much faster turning plane than I have every flown and much more twitchy
3- need to learn how to use coordinated rudder when turning
4 - Plane has a tendency to tip stall, need to take off and land with more speed
5 - I wish I had built the wing with flaps
6 - Great intro into warbirds!
7 - Looking forward to my next project a Top-Flite Gold Edition Corsair .60 - I will build that one with flaps!
8 - Don't be afraid to fly a new plane.
9 - Every plane I have built has flown well, I don't know why I worry so much that they won't!