Flight Test Jitters? – Expert advice to ensure success

There are risks involved in test-flying a new model. Regardless of its type, be it a giant-scale monoplane, a high-performance biplane, or a heavily loaded scale warbird, there are three things you have to get right every time for a successful first flight. Not figuring in random equipment failures, I figure that the three most common causes of new airplane crashes are center of gravity (CG) balance-point placement, engine reliability, and control throws and setup....