Col has just finished building the Austar Fieseler Storch, and I arrived at the field on 13th March with a fearful hangover, and the smell of petrol in the shed as the petrol illuminati tweaked the motor to get it to rev smoothly...

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Now Col has put a lot of extra work into this - including changing the gloss film for a proper matt paintjob, and changing a few fixtures and fittings to his preference. Motor fixed (still tight, but running well), it's time for the taxi test...

That worked - so the range test was next, and Col also offered some rudimentary tips on how to fly - just in case the Storch wasn't sure...

All good, and the ever reliable (call 10 men or call Tom) Sparkes agrees to pilot Col's workmanship through the maiden. A very nice, smooooooth, takeoff run, and the tail lifted just as it should...

and Tom committed the Storch to full aviation...

The takeoff was lovely, Tom put the Storch through a few gentle and very scale-like turns, and he even had time to present her plan view to me for a decent photograph...

What happened next, though, was much more interesting.

It was pretty windy, and the Storch has a lot of wing and not much weight, and a tendency to a rearward C of G that Col had already countered with a good bit of lead in the cowl.

Anyway, on turning at the southwest corner of the field, the Storch took it upon itself to start a very long, slow, barrel-roll. Tom did the only thing possible, and went with the roll, steadied her out, and caried on flying the circuit whilst several of our venerable members untangled themselves from a heap that they had formed, behind the fence.

Tom then took her round for a landing approach...

And brought her back in one shaken, but unstirred, piece...

So some very nice building and finishing from Col (with the help of his mates), some nice engineering from Ron and Tom, and some excellent recovery flying from Tom who, I think, might have had something run up the leg of his trousers, because he was certainly trying to shake something out after he returned the transmitter to Col.

And now, I think, another big chunk of lead before Col fits the cowl, and this leggy lady can become a regular sight at our field.

Ed (hangover forgotten)

Updated builder's article here: https://www.wrcs.org.au/information/member-articles/245-cols-storch-the-inside-track