If you baffle the cowl properly it will stay cool.. I had a moki 180 in one that had a baffle that bisected the cylinder and fully blocked the other side of the cowl so all the air that come in was forced over the cylinder with about 1/8 clearance.. it would run fine in the 120 degree arizona heat.. if you are going to shift to the dle I wouldn't mess up the cowl and just fly it without...

Successful maiden

Flies well, very happy with it.

The ST 2500 ran flawlessly, Super Terrific.

Yes definitely glad I didn't try it with the small engine. The climb rate would have matched the curvature of the earth. The ST seems to be a good match, certainly for the time being anyway.

Glad to hear that the maiden went good. Thats always a good feeling when everything clicks and you bring the plane back to the ground in one piece.And adding to the fact you built this from sticks that must have taken a long time like in the years prior to ARF planes . Use to spend all winter long putting together a kit plane but it was a great thrill to get the maiden flight out of the way and have it fly and run good with motor selection. Good deal

Thanks BAS. Although I bought the plane already built, I just put on the engine, fuel tank and RX. If I ever did decide to build one from scratch, I wouldn't have the strength to fly it. Oh the heartbreak!

Fortunately for me, there are people who enjoy the entire scratch building process, for without these people I wouldn't now have this glorious plane to fly