I Just flew my Zarfiro last weekend. I had some good weather in Ohio and went to wright patt AFB and got to test fly the plane. It was worth the wait. I got the Arf version and I have a OS 91 FS , futaba 9206 on the wing and elevator,and a JR 9611 on the rudder what a over kill! The CG was on the wig tube and maybe just in front, but good for the first flight. A few clicks of down and a click of right. it was flying strait,and level. The snaps were awsome ,started and stopped when you told it to . knife edge took 2% of up elevator and no roller coupling at all. the down lines I mixed 2% down with the throttle at idle. The OS 91 is a good engine but with a YS 110 this thing would be awsome. You could put the hole engine in the cowling.. The OS is outside of the cowling just alittle. last Time I weighed the plane it was 7 3/4 to 8 LB, The paint and covering is a 10 ,because I know I could not have done it myself. The paint is airbrushed,and the covering is one of the name brands.
I liked the precision of the plane and everyone that was there really ejoyed seeing the plane fly. The 3D is going to need some set up . the CG needs to be moved back maybe a 1"or 1 1/2 behind the wing tube.. Harrier were Ok, alittle wing walking, water falls. flat spins,and walls were ok but with the CG back it will really be in it's zone. I have never flown pattern but I will go out and fly a contest this year just for some fun,and I really think the plane would do well in the lower classes of pattern. if your in Ohio, or michigan and see me flying this plane. ask for the stick and I'll let you fly it and see what you think. Deweyd

Dew
Good to hear. My Zafiro is just about ready to cover. I reduced the elevator and aileron size when I cut them out, so I could use this plane as a pattern back up. So far mine is coming out light, hope to hit 7.5lbs (no fancy paint on mine!)
Jeff

Jeff
I think you'l like the plane. what engine do you have on it? and what class do you fly in pattern? I'll try to fly a contest or two this year with it. I fly a lot of IMAC so I"ll try something alittle different. I used a MK bellcrank on the elevator and it seems to work really well even with the 3D throws. anyways maybe I'll see ya out flying somewhere

Dew,

Glad you like your Zafiro. I love mine. I have a YS 110 and it is rediculous. I do most of my flying at 1/3 throttle. I have mine set up for pattern but kept the control surfaces their original size just in case I wanted to move into 3D with it.

Jeff,

I'm sure you'll love your Zafiro. I almost decreased the size of the control surfaces like you are doing. Instead, I just decreased their throw a lot. It is one sweet flying plane. Mine came in at 8.9 lbs, a little heavy in my book. Guess the paint added more than I wanted it too. Nevertheless, it has unlimited vertical and flies great... I love it.

I took the ailerons down about 1/3 and took off the counterbalance area on the elevator. Because my primary pattern plane (Jupiter) is a 2 stroke (os1.40) I went 2 stroke on this one also (I'm using a Supertiger 90 with a Jett Stream muffler). I almost went with the YS 110, but non were available when I was making the decision. I've used the MK bellcrank on a couple of planes with good results. I moved up to advanced last year. I usually only hit a couple of contest a year. The shoot out in Muncie and the finals down in Cincinnati (Kentucky).