Review,review,review

[George Kennie]

Gotta give a report on my Venus.
About 3 weeks ago I saw a local sport flyer with a Venus and was
impressed with how it looked in the air. After seeing more positives
on this list I decided I would try one with the intent of utilizing
it as a nice winter practice plane.A week and a half ago I picked
one up and threw it together and took it to the flying field on
Monday of this week for it's maiden.Oh yeah, I had a YS-53 hanging
around so I decided I would use that hoping that it would be strong
enough.The plane came out at 5 pounds 7 ounces which was a full
pound lighter than the previous model that I had had the 53 in so I
was encouraged. Anyhow, at the field on Monday, the plane flew O.K.,
but I found it to be very sensitive to all control inputs. Pretty
twitchy compared to most of my other pattern adjusted types.The
rudder was extremely effective, to the point of being scary.Snaps to
all 4 quadrants blindingly fast. Spins on elevator and rudder only,
and throw the rudder  to the other side and it would quickly
reverse.Pitch sensitivity required conciously small inputs
especially on landing approaches. I flew the patern with it but it
was tough to make look presentable.However,...........I was also
acutely aware that there were considerable possibilities lurking
within this bird, so I brought it home and went to work on the
throws and anxiously awaited flying conditions.
Today I awoke to 33 degrees, which was a little disheartening so I
kinda hung around for most of the morning hoping for a warming
trend. I happen to live on the ocean so it's usually cooler than
inland and the flying field is about 30 miles inland so about noon
it was up to 44 degrees so I figured that it would be maybe 5
degrees warmer at the field so off I went.Needless to say when I got
to the field it was beautiful(felt like about 55) and the wind was
less than 2 mph and most of the time flat calm. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Start my trusty 53 and take off! Wow, different animal! This
is one surprising little airplane. Ground handling is superb with no
tendency to nose over and with the rudder cut down I could take off
in a straight line, which was tough on Monday. The set-up on this
airplane went so well that at no time have I had to touch a trim
from the get-go.
The manual for this plane says that there is no roll coupling mixing
required and very little pitch coupling. Well if you have ever seen
a guy fly with his chin around his knees you should have seen me.
Flip this buggar KE and stuff in 1/4 rudder and it just goes
straight.On one pass I thought it was pulling slightly to the canopy
and I put in about a 32nd" more rudder and it straightened right
out. I've never had that happen before.I've got pretty good vertical
but it finally stops at about 900 feet.They say it will hover but I
don't have that talent, but it looks like it would be close to that
ability. Still spins on just rudder(and elev) and can get a little
squishy/squirrelly at very low speed slow rolls as it feels like
it's ready to throw it's head into a snap if you're not careful.Spin
entry seems like it wants to drop the left wing.Avelanches and 45
downline snaps are still very crisp even with the reduced
throws.Stall turns are good with approx. 20 degrees rudder.You have
to be very clean on the stall turn with 1&1/4 up or it will tell
your secrets. The slow and the 4 pt. are pretty secure, the 4 of 8
is a little tougher.
Basically, it does quite a few things pretty well but not with the
solid feel of a big bird, but pretty astounding for a small
airplane.
My gut feeling at this point in time is that my Cermark Javelin is a
little more groovy and a little more stable platform to work with.
I think the 63 would be the perfect combo for the Venus. I actually
flew the Javelin in a contest this season but I don't think I would
do the same with the Venus as I can't make it appear as graceful, at
least so far.
Oh, one thing I forgot, this thing has a good sink rate. It comes
down when you cut the power.Not scarily, but it doesn't glide all
the was down the field and run off the other end.It makes a terrific
short field airplane the way you can drop it in in a short space.
Ya'know I actually got a little too warm at the field this P.M. but
I had more fun flying this little wonder than I've had in a while.
If you get one of these airplanes you are not going to be left with
any regrets.It's one really super FUN airplane.
Georgie

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