Building:  is very straight forward, just make sure the throttle servo is down as low as it will go or it will interfere with the aileron servo. I had to notch the throttle servo mounting rails to get it down.  The kit comes with a 2.25 oz. tank, I replaced it with a Dubro 4oz., it's a tight fit, I think a 3oz would be about perfect.  I deviated from the plans on the wing mounting too, I used 2- #10 nylon screws to hold down the rear of the wing instead of the single screw supplied.  The CG came out right on target with no weight added.  Be sure to do a lateral balance, the engine head, muffler and throttle servo are all on the right side, I added about 3/4 oz to the left wing tip to balance it out.

Flying:  This is a good flying plane!  It tracks well and performs great!  The recommended aileron and elevator high rate control throws are too high!  I slowed both down to about 75% and that seems about right.  Ready to fly theplane weighs right on 3lbs.  With the OS .25FSR it will go straight up on takeoff.  Takeoffs are easy, it tracks nicely and will lift it's tail (without nosing over) with no elevator. 

The Tequila Sunrise has a thin wing which allows it to go FAST, it should be great for pylon racing.  The downside to speed is an abrupt stall, don't try to slow it down too much too high on landing or it will drop it's nose.  You have to be careful in high speed turns too, pulling too much elevator on a turn or tight loop will cause it to snap.  Don't let my warnings scare you though, it's not that bad, I'm happy with mine, but it's not a trainer!  If you can handle a low wing sport plane this should not be bad.

Rob Opgenorth

Some addendums to Rob's excellent Tequila Sunrise report from Bill Peterson:

-I used a Futaba S3101 Micro servo for throttle and built a mount using the wood scraps left over from cutting out the two servo mount beams that are pre-installed.  I had to use a very long extension drill to make a well-aligned hole thru the bulkhead former for the throttle pushrod (but maybe you'd have to do this anyway).  The micro servo works very well and saves a little weight.  This also avoids the clearance problem Rob talked about.

-I used the (supplied) steel bolts to hold on the landing gear.  If I'd used nylon bolts, I wouldn't have torn out the underside of my fuselage on the "hard landing" I had.

-I cannot overstate the importance of using VERY SMALL control surface travel, as Rob says, especially on the ailerons.  The airplane is fast and "twitchy" and too much travel makes it scary to fly (and was partially responsible for the "hard landing" aforementioned).

News Flash - The Chief is getting a Tequila Sunrise!!