I'd like some advice on which bi-plane to get. I have narrowed my choice to either a Cermark Pitts/ YS-140 or a GP Super Skybolt/ YS-110. I think I'm looking for a good flyer and a plane that will hold up if I can avoid the dreaded dumb thumb.

If you're afraid of the dreaded "Dumb Thumb" syndrome, go with the Skybolt.

Both are very aerobatic, but a Pitts is much less stable. One wrong move with a Pitts could be... Well, the Pits!

The GP Skybolt is a very stable airframe. I have had the Kit and I reviewed the ARF for RCU Magazine last spring and I love them both. They are very stable, like a pattern ship, with no bad habits.

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the review:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=750]Super Skybolt[/link]

I agree with Mike here.

I love my Skybolt! It tracks beautifully and if balanced right slows down to a crawl for landings. I have mine set up with flaperons and can land on very short fields.
I’ve flown the kit version years ago, and now own the ARF. They both fly like a dream, but I couldn’t dedicate myself to building the kit again

A 110 might be a good choice. I put an OS .91 w/pump in mine, and it turned out a little tail heavy. To correct it I put a 1500mAh pack just behind the firewall.

Good Luck,

John

BTW, I did the review with an OS 91, and that was plenty. But I'm going to add smoke now, so I'm going with a YS 91

A YS 110 would be pushing the upper range for this plane, but it is by no means out of the question.

In fact, it might be fun

I'm not afraid of the dumb thumb, although I do possess that ability. I fly IMAC and pylon race and feel I can probably fly anyhing. I've got the urge to get a bi-plane and it would be nice if it would fit in my SUV in one piece but that is not an absolute requirement. I don't want to go any smaller than a 60 - 90 size. I'd get the Skybolt in a minute but I just don't like the color scheme. I have recoverd an ARF but tht's more work than I want to do. I have a YS-110 in a Funtanna that I still fly every once in a while, I don't want to take that engine out and I'm somewhat resistant to getting another only because I already have one, That's why I was thinking about the YS-140 in the Pitts. But then I read a lot about how good the Skybolt is and that makes me think maybe I should. I do have a Saito 180 setting around with nothing to do in case someone knows of a different plane I should consider.

I've gone into overthink and am confusing myself beyond belief. I'm looking for opinions and/or ideas.

Well, I can't think of anything that will take a 180 and fit in an SUV. I'm not sure how big the Pitts is, but I know that the Skybolt fits in the back of my Blazer just right.

I've just finished my Super Skybolt with an OS 91fs and love it. It flies smooth and easy like a pattern plane and just settles in nice and slow on landings. Great aerobatics. It is currently my favorite plane to fly.

There are several at my field, including myself who own Skybolts. It is still my favorite plane out of many. I would buy another if something ever happened to mine.

Thanks guys, you convinced me. I orderd one, it's suspossed to be here Thursday.



Bill

You won't be disappointed

I have a new skybolt sitting beside me as I write this. I am planning on a Satio 125 with smoke and 645 mg for the tail surface and 425bb for the rest. With the 125 would this still be tail heavy. I also am useing a 2100 mah nicad battery.

With my OS 91fs and 1100mAh battery in the stock location, I only had to add 2 ounces to the front to balance. With the 125 and your battery, you shouldn't have to add any weight.

Hello Canuck 2005. I have the Super Skybolt with the Saito FA-125 on it. I also have an 1800 mah nickel metal hydride battery for the receiver. Everything is installed in the recommended location. I had to add nine (9) ounces of weight to the firewall to get it balanced. The plane flies like a dream. Lots of power and lands like a trainer. You will love this plane!

Say guys, I've been following this post for several days now and unfortunately, cannot add anything. I do however have a couple of questions about the Super Skybolt seeing as how I'm looking for a bipe as my next plane. I pretty much have narrowed it down to a Goldberg Ultimate which I know is an excellent flying plane as is the Skybolt. The biggest thing about the Goldberg to me is the color!! It's difficult to see in flight and tell the top from the bottom. If I go with it, it will necessitate a lot of additional graphs being installed, and I'm not necessarily opposed to that, seeing as how I consider it not to be an airplane if it doesn't have checkerboards on it! I'm aware of the color scheme, including the red and white checkerboard bottom on the Skybolt. My question about the Skybolt is this, Will it do 3D? I know the Goldberg Ultimate and the Great Planes Skybolt are excellent aerobatic planes, and the Goldberg Ultimate will do 3D, but will the Skybolt?

"Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lesson sometime later!"

Phillip[sm=bananahead.gif]

The Skybolt is extremely aerobatic but is not great at hovering do to the outward placement of the ailerons. The prop wash completely misses them and the plane goes into a torque roll. It will also not tumble like a shorter coupled plane. It will do very violent snaps and blenders and is exceptional in knife edge flight. It is my favorite plane for doing rolling circles and rolling harriers.

Ditto. The Skybolt is a great areobat, but it's just not meant for 3D

Picked my Skybolt up today, it looks great and I'm excited. Trying to decide if I should pull the engine out of my Funtana or get a new YS-110. The plane I fly most of the time now is a WH 28% Extra with a DA-50 so the Funtana doesn't get out very often.

What engine do you have in the Funtana?

Personally, I love having a YS engine in the Skybolt because that allows me to move the tank back, and put a smoke tank where the fuel tank was.

A YS-110

Oh yea, that will be plenty!

Maidened my Skybolt arf with a YS 110 yesterday. All I can say is WOW! Fly by at a crawl, slowly advance throttle to half and watch that baby get smaller and smaller at a 75 degree climb out. Landing? Better than my trainer ever landed. Sound of that YS 110- WWWWWOOOOOoooowwwww.

Spinning a Master Airscrew 14" X 7" three blade prop. Moved the tank back to the servo tray, strapped the battery to the tank, mounted the receiver next to the tank, mounted a smoke tank behind the firewall on a removable hatch door. Plane balanced with no ballast added.