Flew the Funtana today for the first time. Lifted off real nice and unbelievably it needed no trim at all. I do wish though that I had turned off the dual rates cause WOW! No vertical was even tried because my motor keeps conking out when I pull straight up and I had to dead stick it both times today - not bad I guess for a new plane. I think the stopper in the tank has a leak and is causing the motor to die - but I checked it on the ground and it was fine. My arf kit was missing the fuel tank stopper and I used the one out of my Morris the Knife which was having the same problems. Any thoughts on how to stop this? Could the extra hole - the one that isn't used or could be used for fueling - leak in the stopper and cause problems? Any one else have these issues? No prop hanging attempts until this is fixed - OS .46FX is wanting the chance though!

If the stopper is leaking it should be evident when the plane is on the ground with a full tank. Be sure your fuel system is leak proof but it sounds more to me like the engine is running too lean.

Too lean is my vote too. Get an extra set of hands and hold the plane straight up (full power), then set the needle just short (300 to 500 rpm by ear) of peak rpm. When you put the plane back on the ground the rpm should drop slightly. Then you can try the pinch test. If the rpm increases slightly when you pinch the fuel line, then you are ready to go.

If it still cuts out in flight, then your problem is elsewhere.

Please do not cut off any body parts doing this...

By saying a leak would be evident on the ground with a full tank, do you mean you would see fuel leaking out of the tank at the stopper somewhere? If so, there is no fuel at all inside the cowl or the inside of the plane in the nose. I think my low end is rich as I have slow throttle response, yet it stalls in vertical flight only. I will try the 4 hand thing.