[rcplanefan]

I just wanted to post a few comments here about my new Carden 300 that I am flying in IMAC Competitions. I purchased this airframe from my friend, John Huntington towards the end of July. It had about 20-30 flights on it before John sold it to me, so it was basically a new airplane. I now have about 30 flights on it myself, and am really beginning to get to know it well.

Cam McCausey built this kit, and I must say after flying this plane that whatever he charges to build one is worth it. If you are interested in competing at the absolute highest level in precision aerobatics, having a straight, powerful, and light airframe is a necessity. This airplane surpassed my expectations in all three of these areas.

Specifics:
Kit: Carden Aircraft Extra 300 mid-wing
Engine: Desert Aircraft DA-150
Exhaust: Greves Pipes
Prop: Mejzlik 30x12
Radio: JR 12x with 8711 servos
Weight: 35 lb., 8 oz.

After flying an airplane with this kind of power (thanks mainly to the Greves pipes) and this low weight, I don't think I can ever be satisfied with anything less.

Comparisons to my Carden 260
I had nearly 250 flights on my Carden 260 when I first started flying this 300, so I think I had a good base of comparison. Many of my observations have been echoed by others, but these are the things I noticed first hand.

Lines
Virtually no difference. It is very easy to draw straight lines, in any attitude, with either airframe. I think the 300 will be easier to keep straight in high winds (haven't flown in much of that yet) mainly because the added power makes faster lines.

Rolls and Rolling Circles
Easier to fly these with the 300 AFTER I learned to reduce my rudder inputs. This airplane has much more rudder athority and so I had to decrease my rudder throw and also re-learn to reduce the amount I input at the transmitter. Rolls and point rolls on horizontal and 45 lines are easier to make axial. The 260 was very good, but the 300 seems better.

Snaps
Virtually no difference but with 2 key exceptions. 1. Less rudder input was required as with rolling maneuvers. 2. Upline snaps are MUCH easier to execute cleanly. This must be due to the extreme power and the ability to muscle through these power robbing figures. Most noticable on the 3/4 negative snap up in the Unlimited sequence this year. My 260 struggled (38.5 pounds running on MTW cannisters), but this plane makes it much easier.

Downlines
Holy smokes. Big difference. Downlines are very, very slow which makes executing elements on these lines much easier. I'm sure on windy days I'll be adding power to the downlines to keep them straighter as they just come down so slowly. I know this is due to the lighter weight.

Hammerheads
Another huge difference. With the 260, the kiss of death in a hammerhead was to be perfectly vertical just prior to the pivot. This would usually result in a flop (zero) or a blast of power and huge wingover. Very hard to predict, and so as a result I always had a little "lean" at the top of the line to ensure that the hammer would go over cleanly. The 300 is very easy to hammer - could be the better rudder athority. Vertical prior to hammer is perfectly fine, a little throttle to push the tail, and after the rotation it locks right onto the downline and crawls back down.

Overall
I am beginning to get very comfortable with this plane and am really looking forward to flying it at the Tucson Shootout in October.

Thanks to Carden, Cam McCausey, and John Huntington for getting this great airplane into my hands. Also thanks to my 2-year old son Colin for all of his help maintaining this baby!

Ken