So, I'm digging this one up for a variety of reasons. I'll give a run down on recent activities and see if anyone has some additional thoughts.
I took the Bugatti to SEFF with full intentions of flying her. The Flex Innovation team was on-site giving seminars on and installing custom setups for their Aura system. Everything I've read about it is sensational and their track record is very high with this product. Laine, from Laine's Planes, had one installed in a Cuda and he had nothing but praise for it, despite it being a bit of a different flying experience. Laine is a pretty hardcore pilot with his Cudas and I trust the guy. I had the Flex guys install an Aura system in the Bugatti and they did a bang up job of it in a couple of hours.
I finally got the nerve to fly her after Carl got his second flight on the P-40. Let me tell you, there is no finer runway condition, short of a paved one, that I would ever find so I figured this would be the place to really try and put her through her paces. I've always known this airplane would probably have a short life. Dan Crews (CraftyDan) was the calm to my internal storm about flying this one.
It has always been about terra firma with this airplane. Again, the CG is only 1 cm aft of the wheel axle line so any sort of bump in the road makes her nose-over. I had 4 attempts to get her in the air after breaking all 4 of my reserve props and even attempting to fly on just one prop. I caved when one of the oleos twisted.
To where I am now... I've ordered a fresh supply of both props to try again. I am now SERIOUSLY considering a MAJOR overhaul of this airplane. This would include re-location of the main gear aft of the main spar. This would be the biggest amount of surgery. Then I would add a third strut at the nose to make this one a tricycle gear setup. I would leave the tail as-is, with the tail wheel, and elongate the struts so that she sits taller. This would clear the tail better for take-off rotation as well as solve my nose-over situation.
The thing is... will I really fly this one that much after I invest MORE time into such a modification? I really cannot answer that right now. The thing terrifies me. As in... a legitimate fright complete with sweaty hands and knot in my stomach every time I think of flying her. Not afraid to lose her... just afraid of someone or something getting hurt because of how she misbehaves with the ground.
100% looking for community input here. I honestly want your thoughts and insights to aid in this tough decision.