Hi,

I was deliberating between a GP Reactor Bipe, H9 Showtime 50 and AW Edge 540 for my next airplane. Now I have a few questions:

1) Knowing that for 3D you need light wing loading. On the Edge and Showtime it is simple enough: weight in lb divided by wing area in sq. in (span x mean cord). What about the Reactor Bipe? It has two wings, so how do you calculate the wing loading then

2) How is it that a larger engine size airplane (Reactor Bipe is 60 size, Showtime and edge are both 50 size) has a smaller wing span (Reactor Bipe is 48" while the Showtime and Edge are 59-60").

3) Also, both the Showtime and Edge are fully symmetrical whereas the Bipe is semi-symmetrical. How that that change the flying characteristics when inverted?

4) I have only flown monoplanes as yet, so should I expect a greater loss in altitude when banked on the Bipe?

Ameyam

wing loading should be the area of both wings added together....but I am no math wizard
No you won't see a greater loss of altitude in a bank with a bipe.....Bipes are made to knief edge....there is a greater amount of drag with a bipe....all the support for the upper wing....so you might need a bit more power on approach.....
the two wing types...either will fly inverted.....CG will have a greater effect on inverted flight than wing type....the further aft the CG the less "push" you will need on the elevator to maintain level flight....

jetmech05,

can you compare these three candidates? Have you flown any of them?

Ameyam

Ameyam, It might help if everyone knew what you were after. In other words. Do you want all out 3D? A sport flyer? Or maybe a combination of the two?

1) On the bipe you add the two wings areas together. the rest you got.
2)The Reactor Bipe has a smaller wing span because there are two wings. If you look at scale planes or full scale even. I single wing is going to have close to the same wing area as a bipe but all that area is on one wing. If that makes sense.
3) I fully symmetrical wing is better at inverted flight. The AOA is higher when inverted on most planes, but it is higher on a semi symmetrical or flat bottom wing than a fully symmetrical.
4)If your speed is up the bipe, it will be as good or better in a turn. Most have struts that go between the top and bottom wing and these increase side area which helps on knife edge and steeply banked turns. The difference is in the amount of drag. Where a single wing plane you might cut the power half way through a turn to land and it will glide in. I bipe will slow down a lot faster. This is because of the drag of having two wings. So if you cut the power in the turn with a bipe, it may fall out of the turn due to lack of airspeed.

david

Dave,

I thought I had mentioned it but then again not. I am not looking for all out 3D- just some 3d, some sports and some fun-fly. My attempts at 3D depend mostlyy on how confident or how serious I am regarding flying on a particular day, on some days I simply fly pattern. My current Reactor 46 is setup with a 55AX is just like that- it does come hovering, some KE, some harriers, some waterfalls but not too much and I dont like to take too much risk with my airframes close to the deck. Think the Showtime 50 is in the same class. I heard that the Bipe is much better at all of those and a easy flier. Dont know much about the AW Edge but it has a good rep. That is why I posted on the beginners' forum

Ameyam

I flew an Edge 540 for a couple of years...and have flown a couple of different bipes....but of the 3 you mentioned only a 540....
All airplanes fly differently...even 2 of the same kind of airplanes will have differences...of the planes you mentioned I think all of them will suit your needs