UPDATE: She WAS fixable and has now been flown. You can find the ReMaiden video here: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vide...

This is the video I really hoped I wouldn't have to make. This last Sunday I got the Parkflyer Plastics P40 out for her maiden flight and things did not go well. Like all warbirds she listed to the left on rollout and initially I was able to compensate with rudder/tailwheel.

As soon as the tail got light she turned hard left, I shut it down, and it came into the fence HARD. Fortunately the fence did its job and no one was hurt.

After a lot of investigating I can't tell if the issue was exacerbated by an issue with the gear but I won't blame the crash on that. In hindsight there are a lot of things I would like to have done differently on this one (obviously).

I have a fair amount of experience flying warbirds and really felt I had the yaw managed with the rudder until that last second.

She may yet be fixable, despite the VERY significant damage. I'm going to sleep on it a few days and decide before too long.


Music by Eric Matyas
"Racing Menu"
www.soundimage.org