Candice

I admit that this model caused me a few problems, and that all were due to carelessness on my part. Firstly the control throws that I dialled into the model were enough to do justice to the best funfly pilots in the country, and second, the centre of gravity was so far off that it was funny. All rather basic problems that a modeller of my experience should not have.

Anyway, on the first visit to the flying field a test glide showed the c of g problem up immediately. As you will know, we all carry flight boxes to the field that seem to get heavier every time we leave home to go flying, but can you find what you want in the box when you need it - or course not. Mind you, lead is not the easiest item to carry around. So I emptied my wallet and inserted about three pound coins, and that just about sorted out the c of g. Having started the engine my friend Don launched the model and off it went in a series of wild gyrations, coming to earth rather heavily at the end of the landing strip. The landing damaged the canard mounting and I had to temporarilly glue it back in place.

The next launch followed after I had reduced the control throws a little, and away the Candice went, but I was in such a two and six, that I just flew it straight into a bush at the edge of the landing strip. This time there was no damage to the plane, just my ego!

Final launch saw the plane flip on lanuch and damage the canard mounting so much that I called it a day.

Back at home I fixed the damage and recovered in about twenty minutes, reduced the control throws by 50%, and added the same amount of exponential just for good measure. The next outing saw the Candice where it was designed to be, in the air and flying very well. It is still a little too twitchy, and so I will reduce the control throws yet again, but it flew so well that I know I am going to enjoy flying it.