Well guys... I was supposed to meet my instructor this evening to maiden my new 4*40 ARF. As far as flying real planes, the only plane i've flown is my Nexstar. Then of course I have hours upon hours of sim time.
Unfortunately our field is on SIU campus and there was a track meet taking place on our field. [:'(] (very annoying) Anyways. My instructor never showed up. But I wanted to at least run my engine so I hung around for a while. About 6:30 the last few buses and vehicles finally left. I get the plane out, fuel up, and that engine starts in 3 flips. Not bad for the 5th tank of fuel, on a cold start.
Pleased with the engine performance. The absolutely dead wind sock. And how well the plane balanced out for me. I got enough courage to take her up myself. The plane only needed 2 clicks of elevator and aileron! I thought it would be more hard to handle. That plane is so freaking awesome. The landings were honestly easier than my nexstar. I ended up making 3 full fuel tank flights. First flight was touch and goes. Awesome, greaser landings. The next two were testing how much freaking better it flies than my Nexstar! Inverted, hammerheads, immelmans, split S's, and just plain hauling A## across the sky. WOW! Crisp and clean handling. Like it was on rails. Such a good feeling. I'm so glad I went with the 4*!!!
Thats all, I just had to share my excitement with someone. What an awesome feeling. And an AWESOME PLANE!!

Oh man! That's exciting to hear. I'm in the process of building my kit 4* with a TT pro 46 so this is really cool to hear.

That's AWESOME!!! I know you're on a natural high right now!!

p.s. I'd watch that "flipping" of the prop. It can eat fingers in a hurry!!

Flipping of the prop, with a chicken stick. I'm a chicken.

Excellent! / Good Job!

I'm putting together a Taquila Sunrise ARF. I hear alot about her being a very hot little plane. I've only been flying for about 4 months so I'm not so sure my skills are up to it. By the time I get it together I may be at the rate I'm going!!!

NEway, I'm still gonna give her a try when I'm done, let's hope she flies!!!

Congratulations! Looks like you've got a winner!

Great news! You are a brav man!

Nice to see you're getting in habit of maidening your own planes. It's a great confidence booster when you can handle flying, trimming, and shaking knees all at once.

Andy

Much better than my habit of murdering my own planes. Good work bodypilot. It takes some guts to maiden that shiny new plane yourself. Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence has been the death of a few of my new ones.

That's great bodypilot! Maidening a new bird is a terrific experience, even if a bit nerve wtacking, and the 4* is a really good choice as a second plane.

Mine is a clippe wing, but to tell the truth, I've flown a couple stock and prefer the way they fly.
Dennis-

You are really gonna love that plane. Now go fly the #^$% out of it and you will see.

It's my second favorite next to my Ultimate. In my eyes, it flies great and lands as slow or even slower than most trainers and you can really grease the landings. You will find landing in wind is pretty much a non-event as it punches through the wind well. After a while seal all the control surfaces and increase the throws and then watch what this thing will do. Be careful as it does have a tendency to pitch down when you add rudder in either direction but with a computer radio that can easily be mixed out. I think I used 7% on my JR6102 but my throws are set to all I can mechanically get with my low rates set at half of that for landings.

I quite often put mine through the IMAC basic schedules and some of the sportsman schedules with no problems. After I added the mix and increaded the throws, it will now knife edge into the next state if I let it, not that it would not do it before, I just now do not have to worry about holding up elevator to do it. I also use a Saito 56 now with a 12x7 prop and the thing just leaps off the ground. I used to have an OS46AX with an 11x7 prop and the thing hauled booty. The Saito slowed it down but lots of low end power and torque for the more advanced maneuvers. Either engine did not require any added weight to the plane.

Let's see... He mastered his trainer - He maidened his 4* solo, now get some stick-time in, and the sky's the limit!

Congrats!

GOOD job! You will enjoy the 4* a lot. Good luck with many more flights,and many maiden flights in the future...have FUN!

Jim C.

What prop would you guys recommend for my setup? (4*40, TTpro.46) I used a 10x6 for the break-in and my maiden flight. I thought it flew fine, but I only had 3 flights so far. Would a 11x5 do anything for it? I have a couple of those for my Nexstar. Just curious what other experienced 4*40 flyers prefer.

11x5 not much different than the 10x6, except for a bit lower RPM

11x6, More pull which will move that plane well

or 11x7, tons of pull and the plane will pick up quite a bit of speed

I tried all three and the 11x7 was more for my taste. This was using an OS46AX

I like an 11X4 apc for good vertical on my .46 TT pros.

The 11-5 or 11-6 (better) will be fine, but while an 11-7 will fly the bird reasonably well, it is too "stiff" to get the best out of the combo. If you want a ton of vertical, a 12-4 will give you unlimited straight up stuff (assuming that you have the ground clearance).