Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Hi all

I'm looking for an ARF high wing scale plane that is NOT a Cub - it's not anything against Cubs, rather I just want something a bit different.

Our lhs has a very limited range - comes down to cubs, a civilian cessna (can't remember the model), and a Cessna Bird Dog. The Bird Dog is a very nice looking kit - fibreglass fuselage - all finished with great decals. It is however pretty expensive.

Are there any other high wing options or is this about it for ARF? Also has anyone had experience with the Bird Dog? What's it like to build and fly?

Thanks

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Dehavilland Beaver (VMAR?)
Decathlon (Goldberg, Lanier)
still thinking .....
:)

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Thanks Vinnie

Much appreciated - keep thinking.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Peter,
You didn't mention what size plane you are looking for but, here is a very fun 40 sized plane. It's the Citabria from Lanier, I have a ST 51 on mine it will cruise around at 1/4 throttle or do any maneuver you can think of at 1/2 throttle , go to full throttle and you can burn holes in the sky.

Here's a link give it a look.

http://www.lanierrc.com/lrcprivate/L...itabriaarf.htm

TiggerFlyer

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Citabria - now you're talking. It's probably a little smaller than I wanted, but this might be the best option so far. Many thanks for the suggestion.

Someone flies a larger version of this (made from a kit) at our local club and it's a beautiful plane.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Sadly Lanier planes don't come to Australia - thanks for any other suggestions.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Peter,
Doesn't Tower Hobbies ship to Oz? Tower sells Lanier, I'm not sure what other online hobby stores ship to Oz but I'm sure that there must be someone that would be able to ship You one, if You really wanted one.

TiggerFlyer

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

The H9 Taylorcraft is a really nice arf.

It's big though - maybe bigger than you are looking for.

I'm sure Horizon will ship anywhere.

Jeff

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Tiggerflyer - Tower ship to Oz (we have bought quite a bit of stuff from them) but the info about the Lanier ARF says that the kit is too big to send beyond the US or Canada.

Jeff - that Taylorcraft looks like a great plane. I'll have to start saving, but it looks just what I am after.

Thanks for all the help.

Peter

Bird Dog
 

If the Bird Dog you are looking at is manufactured by Giant Scale Planes, I would stay away from it. I know it looks nice, but has a terrible quality. Landing gear will rip out right after first landing. Windows do not fit. Fiberglass fuse is not strong enough to even the slightest crash ( I am talking about flipping the plane over when landing to fast). I had one, and it only lastet 2 flights. It crashed due to my error, but should have survived it with minor repairs needed. It did not ! Fuse broke completely in 2 at cockpit. Firewall came out, and additional cracks where found all over the fuse. The only thing I can say good about it was the covering and paint job. Now, if you are looking at a different Bird Dog let me know.

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Thanks for the wrning - I'll check the manufacturer. Also I found a local shop selling the Taylorcraft - damn this is going to get expensive.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Folks

The plane I am considering buying is an ARF version - a Cessna Bird Dog made by CM-Pro. Anyone know this plane? I'm especially interested in how it flies, and in particular whether it will be a slow, relaxed flyer. Attached is a photo.

Here are some specifications:

Length . . . . . . . . . . . : 1330 mm
Wing Span . . . . . . . : 1840 mm
Wing Area . . . . . . . . : 47 dm 2
Wing loading . . . . . . : 67g~dm2
Airfoil . . . . . . . . . . . . : NACA-2412
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . : 2200~2300g
Engine Required . . . : .40 - .46 (2-cycle), .50 - .60 (4-cycle)


many thanks for any help with this.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

It looks like a nice semi-scale version of the Birddog. With the 2412 airfoil it should fly very gentle. Do you have a link to a website with more info?

-Ben

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

I'm looking all over. All I can find is china models http://www.cmpairplane.com/index.htm
Is this where you found this?
CMpro? hmmmm.


Joe

GSP
 

Yep, that's it ! China Models are distributed here in the US through www.giantscaleplanes.com ! You will find lots of info of their bad quality in other threads here on RCU.
It is the same Bird Dog that I had. Don't buy it.

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Thanks T3D,
It might be better to get an RCM trainer and recover in bird dog scheme then have a good look and a great quality plane. hmmmm.


joe

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Thanks - I had not found this web site before, or realised this was the same plane that Texas 3D had problems with - that was a close one! many thanks for the heads up.

Can anyone point me to threads concerning planes made by CM-Pro (Great Scale Models)? I'd like to find out about problems experienced by others.

Thanks

Peter

How about a CG Decathlon ?
 

Peter,
just do a search for "Giant Scale Planes" and you will find tons of info on them.
Some of them like them and then others don't ! Maybe they have improved within the last 18 month ! Don't know, and probably never will, since I won't buy another one. Do you have a chance to inspect the plane before buying, or where you going to mail order the Bird Dog ?
The problem you will run into, is that there aren't many ARF's of that plane out there. Have you thought about the Goldberg Decathlon ? Now that is a very nice looking and high quality ARF (in my opinion). Flies great too ! Check it out at : http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/...ady_to_fly.htm

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Many thanks - I found some of the threads, and some specificallt relating to the bird dog.

Is the decathlon an earobatic plane? I'm chasing more of a gentle slow flyer (maybe it can be both?).

Thanks again for your help.

Peter

Cessna Bird Dog - or something else?
 

Yep, the Decathlon does both very nice. Flies like a trainer, but also does some nice aerobatics if you want. Much better then the birddog (flies actually nicer I think).