First patterns with the Oriental - Video

My Oriental begins its service as my next contest plane and it's getting off to a good start. I replumbed the fuel system as described in the build thread, and tried the APC prop recommended by two Philly Fliers, as well as other tips that got me ahead of the game. I also installed a tongue muffler with a pressure tap, which reduced the weight of the nose, moving the CG a little farther aft than the book recommends.

I ran the engine set to the same steady 2-stroke for my warm-up flight as I did last week when I was using a Zinger 11x5 prop. But rather than 5.2 second laps, today I was flying 4.4 seconds with the APC 10-1/2 x 4-1/2. Last week if I ran a wet 2 stroke, it was gutless, low on climbing horsepower with no authority up high and I wouldn't risk the overhead maneuvers. With both props, a full 4 oz tank would give me a very long run, however until now, I was not concerned since I was only trimming and not flying patterns. But today, on its second flight, I put up its first full pattern, even though it was still moving too fast, because it felt so sure footed and turning corners with much less effort with the new rearward CG. Lightening the nose was the icing.

For the next and last flight I tried richening the needle hoping it wouldn't again be gutless and might still have some pull. It did. We had the camera going for this one and Wayne was the videographer. Afterwards, I wiped her down and parked it, and proceeded to wring out the Ukey, working on OH8s and other stunts including consistent bottoms.

Here we are in action. Go full screen and turn up the sound if you've got it. The voices come and go, but the ending is hilarious:
https://youtu.be/88wv-ie0WMY