Got in a couple more flights last night on my SHP. Getting very comfortable with the plane, and landings are definitely getting better. Not flipping it on landing anymore. The SHP lands quite a bit differently from other planes I'm used to, so it's taking several flights to get landing dialed in. I'm going to try a suggestion from many people on RCGroups and that is to put in a programmed mix with a tiny bit (2%) of down elevator on low throttle only, to help combat the ballooning that the plane wants to do when you slow it for landing.

On these last two flights, I did quite a bit of tumbling and other "insane, sticks into the corners" type maneuvers, and started trying to harrier it a lot more. Harriers will take some work for me, as I've always been a lazy rudder flier, and you've got to use that rudder in harriers.

I bought my friend Chad's Precision Aerobatics Addiction, blue version. He had a bad run of luck last week and blew out no less than 3 (!!!) motors. 2 of them due to a completely faulty ESC, the other due to, well, probable abuse. ;) So he needed some cash to get back up and running, I wanted an Addiction anyway, so... I bought his. Flew that a single flight last night. It flies weird, of course, as it is a pure 3D airplane. While the SHP and most of the other 3DHS birds can fly normal, the Addiction really is meant to do 3D only. Got it trimmed out on my TX and flew it a bit, tumbles and sloppy-ass harriers. It's a fun plane. ;)

Tomorrow my 51" AJ Slick from 3DHS will come in. I got the full setup direct from 3DHS: the airplane, Torque motor and speed control, and servo package with Du-Bro long arms and extensions. The plane should fly exactly as it was meant to, since it's being built with all recommended components. I'm pretty excited to get that plane up and going. As nice as the SHP is (and it IS a very awesome plane!), the Slick is even nicer (and a bit bigger too!).

These smaller airplane manufacturers, like 3D Hobby Shop and Precision Aerobatics, are doing an amazing thing for the hobby. For a little less than it would cost you to field an airplane from one of the "Big Boys" such as Horizon or Tower, you can field one of the 3DHS or PA birds, and have a much, much higher quality airplane. And the customer service is amazing. The owners of these companies actively participate on forums such as RCGroups, and engage in friendly talk with the pilots of their products. It's really cool to be posting about a plane you own, and the owner of the company that made it (or in many cases the very designer of the plane!) will chime in and offer advice, or even just say "hey, cool, glad you are enjoying the plane!". You rarely, if ever, get that with the "Big 2" companies. And again, these airplanes are considerably better quality all around... for less money!