[smuzz]

I decided to nip across to the field this afternoon for a quick couple of circuits before sun-down. I got there at about 4:45pm, which left about half an hour before Willy said the sun would set. There was a bit of a breeze when I first arrived, but it dropped to almost nothing soon after.

Put two batteries through the P-51 and learned something: When handlaunching the plane myself (unfortunately, I was alone as Junior was at work) I had to decide whether to throw it left-handed and keep my right-hand on the elevator/aileron stick (being mode 2 of course) or hurl it right-handed and then grope for the stick in the first half a second it was getting away. For the first and only time in my life, I could see mode 1 having an advantage!
I decided to go with the first option and wind up the throttle with the transmitter on the ground then pick it up and launch left-handed. Being naturally right-handed, my left-handed throws were pretty wimpy and the plane would torque-roll to the left after letting it go. The solution was to resist the thought that it really needed full throttle on take-off, because it doesn't. A much smoother start to the flight resulted. I know this is all common knowledge to the "old hands" but to right-handed, mode 2 learners it was not all that obvious at first.