Performance-wise, Goony Bird had two speeds--slow, and just a little bit faster than slow. This was my first airplane built solely from plans, and I’m sure she was also heavier than need be. Despite the relatively low performance, I had more long, (up to an hour and longer) high-altitude flights with this sailplane than any of my conventional models. More than once I’ve landed just as the RX batteries died with a twitch of the rudder. Many times other members of the Greater Detroit club have driven onto the flying field to find me lying flat on my back, staring up at a barely visible speck. When a twelve and half inch chord straight overhead is winking in and out of sight, you know you’re pretty high. In fact, with no spoilers, getting down was initially a problem--giving full down elevator would merely cause Goony Bird to accelerate to a slightly higher speed and then remain there. I finally learned the secret to getting her down one day when Goony Bird got caught in an enormous thermal and went O.O.S straight overhead. In desperation, I gave full down and full rudder and watched the sky for falling fragments. Instead, after maybe half a minute of held breath, Goony Bird appeared, corkscrewing down under perfect control, sunlight flashing off the translucent red Monokote. From then on, high altitude flights became more relaxed, as I had discovered the trick of getting her down out of even the biggest killer thermal.