The Li'l Satan is fun. Flew this one from the Brodak kit on 26' of 30lb test Spectra. Why 26'? Well, that's what the plans recommended. Made my knees shake doing whatchamadingys like the combat guys do. One buddy flew it and it took a LOT of concentration for him to fly it level. He hadn't flown in years, I don't think. Another friend immediately got dibs on the next flight. He was doing great until it got lost behind his head somewhere and "WHUMP" it took out a gopher hill. Took it home, washed out the engine and all was good. I think 35' lines would be waaaaay more practical. Depends on whether you like shakyknees or not....
A guy at the field has a Baby Barnstormer that flies really well on Cox power. That might be an option?
The Divot
Oooo! Oooo! Memory jog!
During my "Endless Summer" of 1970 (LOTS happened in my life with C/L during that year, especially from summer on), amid my .36 size combat wing flying, on a lark I built a Lil' Satan. I put a twin port Golden Bee on the nose that I had. Like Dave Hull, I put it on the recommended (26 1/2 ft?) flying lines.
My first flight: The short lines made its speed sensation feel as fast as a big combat plane, but it was VERY light on the lines and TWITCHY TWITCHY! It was a very sensitive little airplane. I did a few loops and such... but it was a handful for my fledgling stunting skills.
As soon as I landed, a young friend of mine (David Jamell) put up one of his 1/2A plank wings.
My mentor, Bill James (an experienced contest combat flier during the early-mid sixties with a 3rd place in Open Combat at the '63 Nats), wanted to fly my Lil' Satan alongside David. I gladly agreed. In seconds we had the Golden Bue buzzing and Bill ran out and took his place beside David. David had a "what the ??" look on his face!
As soon as Bill was airborne he settled in beside David, both were all smiles. What happened next I had never seen before (my exposure to really good C/L fliers, combat fliers in particular, was essentially non-existent at the time). Anyway, Bill was on the backside of the circle, and quick as a flash he took the Lil' Satan into an outside loop, and pulled out just a few inches off the ground inverted, flying low and hidden... heading back toward David. Like lighting and then snapped up under him in what would have been a perfect "Kill" scenario had there been streamers attached. I could hear the guffaws from Bill outside the circle (he was having a blast) and David yelled "WHERE did YOU come from??" in amazement.
Very soon, David ran out of fuel, and once he was on the ground, Bill schooled us on just what a Lil' Satan was capable of. His flying exhibition with that Lil' Satan was so impressive to this young man. He whipped that little airplane through eights and all sorts of tight, turning maneuvers. As you can see, I've never forgotten it.
Such good memories!
Andre