Test flew my new fuel system and first flight of my Medallion

I took the Li'l Jumpin' Bean and the PT-19 out today. I wanted to test that bladder I made and also fly my Medallion for the first time since I got it last Fall. The bladder worked pretty good. I'm not sure I had the engine needled rich enough. I set it like I would set a Tee Dee, but it slowed climbing up into loops more than it should. I used a 5.5x3 prop which has worked well in the past. But the damn thing ran for 5:50 on about 25 cc of fuel. I did some fast turning and a lot of plain laps just to get my flying legs tuned up. No dizzy, so I'm good that way. I had to run around a lot to keep the lines tight and get back to my spot before I hit the building or the trees. There was a little wind, but not so much I should have struggled to keep the lines tight. I'll set it richer next time. It can still leave the stooge running slower without hitting the ground before it gets airborne. Listen and tell me if you think it was needled right. It could possibly be the bladder, but it's as free flowing as it should be.

The PT-19 with the new Killer Bee was a different story. I doubted if it would fly off the platform, so I used an old line and skewer type for a rolling takeoff. I pulled weeds along the takeoff path where I worried they would catch the lines. The KB and a 5.25x4 prop got it off the ground almost instantly, a first for that plane, which always reminded me of getting a kite aloft. But it either caught the weeds or got tangled in the stooge line. I have watched the video 10 times and I can't tell. It was funny as hell. After it got up to about 4 feet it suddenly turned into the circle and made some interesting maneuvers on its own. I thought I was going to have to dodge it, but it finally hit the ground in an explosion of rubber bands. No damage at all. You gotta love the PT-19 for that.

I was tired, so I just threw everything in the wagon and went home. It looks to me like it can fly from the stooge on the platform, so I'll try it again tomorrow. The Killer Bee is really strong. It seems plenty stronger than a BW. My new 2" pitch props are at the post office, so I'll have them Monday and I can try that PT-19 loop I promised.

I didn't post a video of the PT, but I did post some of the Bean. I removed the boring laps I flew just for the exercise, but I did post most of the third flight. I flew plain laps twice on a half tank to make sure it all worked and then videoed the long flight. It does run better all the way through on a fuller tank, and just speeds up for a second, then cuts off when it's empty.

Anyway, here it is. Click full screen if you can.