I am in the market for an ARF bipe. I have an OS 91 4-stroke and was looking into the Nitromodels Stearman however was scared off by previously read posts. What are my options for an ARF bipe this size in the Stearman/Waco look?

I would suggest a Great Planes Skybolt. It's a great flyer.

Well don't believe everything you read.

I have one of these and it's a nice plane, especially when you consider the price. It arrived in 5 days from the West Coast.



That said, a FS .91 is way too big for what is essentially a .40 plane. You will not be able to get it into the cowl and the plane will be VERY VERY nose heavy if you could.

You should be looking for Stearmans in the .60 through .70 range for optimum use of the .91 engine.


Maybe someone else could suggest something in this range from another vendor as I come up short of ideas.

That 91 however would find a GREAT home in a Great Planes Skybolt ARF.

I'm running a .91 in my Skybolt and it's a good match for this plane.

Take a look at the Cox/Pica 1/6 scale Waco. I've got the 1/5 scale and it's a great ARF.

You might consider the Hangar 9 Camel. I have a .91 four stroke in mine and it is more than adequate power. A good flying airplane, but some what hard to handel on the ground. The Pica 1/5 Waco would be a good choice I think....Almost forgot teh SIG Waco Cabin bipe......

Mobyal, Tell us a bit about your Waco.....I almost ordered a 1/5 , but heard about the 1/4 Cub from Hangar 9, so it is on it's way. Have three bipes now, and like each one for it's own way of flying. My GP Super Stearman is a great plane, with a Zenoah 26. The Camel is a good WWI airplane, with a Saito .91, and then I have an Aeromaster II with a .61 for bangin' around.....

I'm also in support for suggesting a Great Planes Super Skybolt. I maidened mine today and it flew very, very, nice. I have a Mag .91RFS swinging an APC 14x6 on mine.

I'd recommend it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Anonymouse --
There's a pretty good thread on here on the 1/5 Waco. I started mine sometime in March and it went together really well. Powered w/ a Saito 150. All the basic construction is good and straight. Covering is great and for the first time w/ an ARF I didn't have to spend a couple of hours removing wrinkles and tightening things up. The wheel pant attachments were no good because of poor soldering but I made up some replacements from sheet brass and wheel collars.. Or you could buy some. There are NO problems mounting the wing(s)/cabanes. Just mount the bottom wing and bolt on the cabanes and the top wing. Everything aligns perfectly.
It flies great. Very scale-like. Lots of lift of course, and basic aerobatics are fine. Like any bipe, when you cut the power it wants to come down. I recommend this one!
I also have the H 9 1/4 scale J-3 on order. I got the PnP version. Wish I still had my Aeromaster II that I built back in the late 70s. I put a set of foam wings from Wing Mfring Co on it and it was powered w/ a Supertigre 71. I flew it for several years and lost it one day when the top wing came halfway off. Caused it to spin in.
Right now I'm flying the Waco, a World Models 1/4 scale J3, a H9 1/5 scale J-3 and -- here's one from the past -- a Balsa USA Smoothie. Working on H9 P-47 and waiting for the H 9 `1/4 J-3 to get here. The World Models 1/4 scale I'm gonna sell.
Ain't it a great hobby?
Best
Al

I have to also recommend the GP Super Skybolt. Perfect combination with the OS 91FS. Beautifully flying bipe. I love the way this plane handles in the wind. Cuts right through it.