[planecrazy]

Well, I didn't wait for the mall show. I lengthened the lower struts of the X between the floats, this had a 2 fold effect. It spread the floats a bit and lowered the wing to floats incidence. I also replaced the prop it was a 13x6 3 blade with a 15x6 2 blade.

This week end was our mall show and the Arado took second in the advanced scale. Really not much of an accomplishment since there were only 2 entries and Bill Green's Spitfire blew me outa the water! Great job Bill!! This morning as I was having breakfast, I was looking out our dining room window and noted to the wife that this morning would be a great day to test fly the Arado. She said, why don't you? I replied, can't it's at the Mall right now!

After the show and dinner, the breeze was light, and the lake looked pretty smooth. I strolled down to see how it really was, 8-10" rollers.....heck with it, I'm gonna try.

So the plane and everything was carted once again down to the lake. The wife brought her kayak, I had said to her, I didn't know how it would act in the waves so she should stand by if a rescue was needed. I timed the launch as the waves receeded and got out into position. the waves were coming in from the southwest so I pointed the nose into the waves and pushed the throttle up, once again it didn't lift off. So I taxied back, but then I noticed the wind was actually 90 degrees off the waves, from the south east! So I pointed the nose into the wind and sorta across the tops of the waves. I pushed the thottle up and after 100 ft there was air under the floats!!!!!

I kept the climb out as gentle as I could (even though my heart was racing!!) it was VERY sensitive on the elevator and pulling to the left. I had programed in a dual rate of 50% and flipped the switch, it seemed better but was still sensitive. I did 8 -10 circuits and got it pretty close to "hands off" and then after one bank it did this "funky chicken". Scared the crap outa me, so I reduced power and did one more circuit reducing power as I went along. On the landing I kept the power about 1/4 throttle and it did one small bounce and settled into the water. Engine still running, WHEW!!!!!

I taxied back to shore and then looked down at my feet and there was our digital camera! The wife had forgotten to grab it! I was tempted to do another flight but we were quickly loosing light, so we'll get video & pictures next time!!

[wymbly1971]

Congratulations Chris!

[roscoe]

Congrats on the test flight, you did a beautiful job on the build!

[Dave Holmes]

Way to go, Chris! We'll be looking forward to the pictures/video as soon as you get them.

[ronnieo]

Good show Homey!!! Wish I was there to record it for ya...

[Seahawk]

Very nice work, looking good !! http://rc-bulgaria.com/index.php?topic=506.0

[Guest]

Gorgeous project, and I've always loved the subject. Really nicely done, congrats.
I hate to point out the obvious, but...highly sensitive to elevator, and did a funky chicken thing, sounds like it's a bit tailheavy...that would be the first thing I would change, rather than muss with incidence or anything else...
All I can say is...well done....

[planecrazy]

Thanks for the compliments and input guys.

Yes, I suspected the CofG and double checked it. It was well within the limits of the plans. I dialed down the elevator travels and added in some expo. I'll see how or if it improves things, if not I may have to adjust the CofG point to remove the funky chickens!

[Guest]

Just because the plans say so does not mean the CG is accurate, or that the designer even flew the model at all. Consider that...
You aren't going to do any harm being a little nose-heavy, my worthless two cents is move the CG forward, change nothing else for now.