[RCSE] Supra #42 flies!!

[Hilaunch]

Following three weeks of slooow assembly, Supra #42 (carbon) was launched today.  The weather at Poway was perfect with light winds, light thermals and lots of sun.  No rain this year so there is no grass, just brown stubble that generates thermals from about 0900 until sunset.       My Supra is a carbon model with a beautiful dark orange fuse and white and orange wings.  Assembly took a little longer than I expected mainly due to my desire to put the pushrods inside the fuse and boom.  The fuse is tight quarters with the ballast tube installed.  Details of the pushrod installation are available from me off line.       The Airtronics 94761Z digital servos are a perfect fit in the wing and fuse.  I used the supplied hardware to connect servos to flight controls and covered the servos with the supplied covers.  Thanks to Barry Kennedy and Larry Jolly for providing me with pictures and suggestions about making the installation and setup.       'ole #42 was almost perfectly trimmed and flew nearly the length of the field with the first hand launch.  The first winch launch was equally nice with a steep climb without the application of a launch mode.  I used the 5? degree tip joiners for increased stability during launch and thermalling at long range with my ancient eyes.  All up weight was 68 ounces including 3.5 ounces of nose lead and the CG was set at 64 mm.       After the joy of the first successful launch waned, I noticed that Supra was still at about winch height although not encountering any thermals.  A quick trip around the field, down in the valley and way upwind did not produce a thermal encounter, but did produce a 5+ minute flight.  The model has great L/D and good speed range.  It will go fast and it will slow down for min sink or thermaling.       A quick dive test and inverted flight showed a nose heavy condition so .5 ounces were removed for the next flight.  Again the dive test and inverted still showed a nose heavy condition so another .5 ounces were removed.  Now it was right for my style of flying.  It will pull out of a dive test in 4-500 feet and flies inverted with little elevator.       A few adjustments were needed for the elevator compensation in landing mode, but it isn't quite there yet.  However landings are easily controlled as the model will slow to a walk even without a head wind.  The large rudder provides good control for those last minute "jinks" for the tape.       The Supra is a well designed, beautifully constructed thermal duration model.  It is very stable on launch and in flight with no bad habits that I could see on these first flights.  Judging from the winch launch results, the carbon wing should be strong enough for F3J (I will test it this weekend in Phoenix).       Thanks again to Airtronics, Barry Kennedy and Larry Jolly for their help with this project.       Contact me directly with question regarding assembly or setup.       See you in Phoenix.   Don Richmond San Diego, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.hilaunch.com