Mine maidenen today.
I think I followed all the advice i could, and made one modification. During my move from the USA to the netherlands, some Miami Mover employee basically folded it up so taht it would fit in a moving box. I was able te restore it and give it bigger winglets for som extra stability. Well, those worked. The handtosses showed great stability (I did my tests in July with beaufort 5 windforce and it flew). I wasn't able to get both ailerons deflect at the same opposite angle, so that was a little bit of a worry to me, hoping it would not arc too much during boost. So basically, I tried to built it right, balance it the right way and i tried not too forget the preflight preparation. The RCO refered me to the far away launch pad...
The boost was more or less straight up with a nice slow roll, and a bit of an arc against the wind, but not too big. Then with a loud bang the pod came out and deployed, AND the thing flew! It was a great side. About 2/3 of the flight it stalled, it dove down and pulled up 2 meters above the ground and then landed. Not too bad. Because of the landing it had some sand at the nose and i decided that that would be a nice addition of weight to stabilize it a little more. Basically i was really proud, that i was one of the few that got a nice flight out of it.
Second flight: boost went more or less the same, there was a little more wind, but it stalled more! That was something i did not expect! The CM landed in the nicely high grass and basically looked like the CM in the first post on this thread. Cockpit gone, the blocker for the pod ejection gone, one of the washers and the plastic ring, gone as well, and the wood structure is more damaged than before. Everything in that area was glued with epoxy. I suppose that it stalled more, because the cockpit was gone and therefore there was less weight in the nose. So in this thread we're back to square one.
Both flight were video taped and photographed, once i get them in the mail i will post them, that is some one is interested.
I think it is time to send an email to ESTES, again.