Yesterday was a great flying day. Temp in the 60's, very slight breeze, the runway had been rolled. So we took our maiden flight. Unfortunately, she was climbing, even at 1/2 throttle and full down trim. When I got home, I measured, and somehow managed to put the stab in wrong. There was a 1/2" difference from the LE to the TE. Going back to post #5, I can see that I mis-measured.

The more serious issue, however, is that the LG ripped out on landing. Major surgery to follow.....

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...8b3b0d4b60.jpg

So after a month of licking my emotional wounds, and figuring out how to proceed, I started to re-build the landing gear. Bigger plywood plate, I will put 6 pcs 1/4" dowels thru the plate and all the way through the upper wing skin, then replace the balsa skin I cut out with more 1/16" balsa, but will be using epoxy to attach. Should be plenty strong.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...87da9a8397.jpg

So here's 6 holes for 1/4" dowels

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...8b892893f5.jpg

The dowels go all the way through the top skin and will be bonded to it.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...cb496d26d3.jpg

Bottom sheeting attached with epoxy - plenty strong.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...7a1e718c76.jpg

To correct the stab angle of incidence, I had to completely cut of the tail assembly - boy, did that hurt!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...d85b553dcc.jpg

The bare wood showing is where I will have to re-do the stab to zero incidence.

Tail feathers re-attached. Balsa wedge to fill the gap.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...621ea2c0c7.jpg

Second maiden flight scheduled for this Saturday, 6/21/25

Maiden flight II completed without incident. I'm very happy. need to tone down aileron response, but otherwise flies great.

It seems to take a long time to take off - the problem is the tailwheel put the plane at a very shallow angle of attack. Because it's a tail dragger, the up elevator has almost no effect until the wing starts flying. The solution is to take the tailwheel off to increase the angle of attack on the ground. We'll see the result next Tuesday, weather permitting.

Takeoff much more normal. Rudder still steers ok on the ground.

For those interested, look at model Aviation magazine November issue, page 116.