Hello everybody
My Cloud Dancer flew for the 2nd time this Sunday (3 flight total).
It has an Irvine .53 in the front (hope the pictures show up)

It's a nice plane, but fast and slim, so it goes away quickly and you can loose orientation, gotta concentrate.

First Flight: Put on a buddy cord, I took the controls and started the roll about 3/4 of throttle and 30 or 40' it just leaped into the air, I gained altitude and rolled for pattern, then my buddy took over for trims, just a couple of clicks right aileron and a couple elevator and it's trimmed, I regain control, made a couple of passes and aproach to land, made a go around and then made my approach a little tentative, but sink rate is good and nice attitude, with little airspeed didn't show tendencies to stall and landed nice & Slow

Second Flight: Put on the sowling and canopy for next sunday (our annual fly-in) I took it out for a spin before the crowd came, on take-off gunned the IRvine too fast and the torque carried the lane left, but it was Ok (no buddy cord this time) mad a couple of rounds, the difference in handling with the cowling and canopy is noticeable my friend landed it w/ou much trouble. Noticed the pressure line is nicked by the cowling, fixed w/a tie in

Third Flight: Later that afternoon, it was gusty an I decided to take the CD for another spin, and almost lost it... maybe it was a combination of factors.. I was a bit tired for helping in the fly-in, gusty winds, sun on the horizon and my buddy made a bit more nervous by mentioning the people around :
Anyway, take off was ugly, torque really carried the plane left, I gunned the Irvine (thank-god it rips) and pulled away from the flying points in a hurry I wa reall y nervous but in control, ailerons were very responsive after three nervous circuits I felt like jelly so my buddy took over (but he was nervous too) and was loosing it in the sun, a fellow from other club was nearby and approached us asking if there was troubled, well he took over mad a couple of trim adjustments and after two circuits landed it nicely!!!!
His Comment: "you guys had jitterry fingers!!!

Anyway I will reduce a bit aileron travel and put some markings at the bottom of the wings to see it better, I like this plane!!
(Hate the plastic cowling)
Regards,
Patrick

Well done,
Nice pics, and your daughter is a cutie, too.

I love first flights..pucker factor and heart moniters..Whew!

Thanks for the update, nice looking plane.

Best to you,

Thanks MIke
I forgot to mention my little one Melissa has two older (11 & 12)brothers that are on buddy boxes..... she wants a lazy bee with the schoolbus theme.. will see in a couple of years
Regards
Patrick

Great story--I love a happy ending--congrads on a great plane

I just got one of these planes, is the Irvine too much engine? It is what I had planned to use also. I have a 46FX that I could use instead. Your plane looks good, and your daughter is too cute! Good luck Loren

The plane is VERY light, for an experienced flier the .53 woudl be ideal for 3D, for my self is a little too much I'm thinking abour putting a 46 myself, but the 53 is the only engine I have right now.
Having said that, the 53 does not induce adverse flying characteristics in the plane, it flies nice and stable at 1/3 throttle at 3/4 throttle it goes very fast, approach on final is steady.
So If you can do advanced maneuvers.. keep the .53 with reduced throw on aierons for the first flight.
Regards,
Patrick

Thanks for the quick reply. I haven't bought the .53 yet, but I can get one for the same price as a 46fx. Plus it would give me a chance to practice some new tricks. Loren