Finally got to try out my Mad Dog 40 today. I put a TT GP 42 on it. It balanced right on the aft CG without any weight. Didn't use the rudder cable system. Just a Golden Rod. A 40 sized plane doesn't need the complication of the pull-pull. (Actually, I just didn't feel like fooling around with all the wire.) Anyway it is a fast plane and really maneuverable with the aft CG. I thought it would be more of a big motorglider type of plane with the 69in wing on a 40 size fuselage. It will climb vertical til you lose control of it with an APC 10/6. The only problem is the raked landing gear.(Wheels too close to the CG.) It wants to nose over on grass. Plus the wheels are too small for grass. May try a strtaight gear when I get tired of not being able to taxi on grass. I solved that problem by putting my toe on the tailwheel and revving it up, then letting it go with up elevator. No problemo!! As soon as it lifts off, center the elevator and let it climb. It will climb on a knife edge, too. Slows down well for landing but keep the idle slow or it will fly right past you.

Seen this one on the web, looks really cool-they also make an electric Mad Dog
Love the the covering scheme! one of the best uses of transparent I've seen yet
How well is it built?

It is built well but light. I ran some epoxy around the firewall joint just for my peace of mind. Probably wasn't necessary. The balsa is soft and easy to cut with a knife. The ribs are all skeletonized. The wingtips and cowl are of fiberglas instead of ABS. All surfaces are already cut/ slit for hinges, but you have to glue them on. Wing is thin and symetrical. I didn't use any aftermarket control horns. The stock ones seem to be fine for a forty size airframe. It has to be well-built or I would have broke it in half this afternoon. I have too much elevator throw and it really turns tight(as on a dime). I held the stick forward and let it do about 5 outside loops in a row but at about half throttle to unload it a little. I am in the next to bottom hole on the horn. May move all the way out or maybe in one on the servo. I tried to fit a Saito 56 but it stuck out of the cowl too far and looked funny. Any motor heavier than the TT GP 42 will have to have the battery moved back. Probably weighs less than 5lbs. Haven't weighed it, but it is light. Went to 2.5in wheels, but it still noses over trying taxi on grass. Rolls out a little better, but noses over as soon as it slows on landing. Next step is to change to 40 aluminum gear(not wire) and take the rake out of the gear. The rake looks good but isn't practical unless you like carrying it and having someone hold it for a full throttle/ full up elevator takeoff Turtle deck is foam not wood. Over all it is a fun, fast and certainly not boring airplane.

I just replied to another post on this plane.

The quality of mine was great and the covering is near perfect. With a .46, it flies like it is on rails. I swear, this thing is a total blast to fly.
I honestly dont know how they are selling these things so cheap and still making any money. If you have a spare .40 laying around (who doesnt) you should pick one up.

I will agree it does not want to slow and I almost always need the whole runway.

Honestly, in a world of rip-offs, its nice to get a deal on something this nice.



oh, on a side note, I didnt use the stock landing gear as I had a spare dubro nylon setup. It looks like the landing gear should be moved foreward if you used the supplied ones for the reasons the others have stated. There is more than enough room to screw them in further foreward