Hi all,

I've been flying for a little under 2 months, love my Avistar trainer, and am thinking of spending my Winter learning how to build. I know it's not necessarily a good choice for a 2nd plane, but I'd like to build a biplane.

I'm not looking to cut lightning quick aerobatics, but I can handle basic rolls, loops, immelmans, etc. Excluding WWI-era planes, does anyone have any recommendations on a docile biplane? Comparing between a Stearman, Ultimate, Waco. The Pitts will have to wait for my 3rd plane.

You should look at the Hog Bipe from Sig before you commit to one of the others.

the fun fly bipe is a peace of cake to build and fly...i can't remember if its sig or great planes design....

that would be the "sig ultimate fun fly".
you can go to http://www.sigmfg.com and look it up (having trouble direct linking it due to screwy web page design.)

I have flown the ultimate bipe that Marc (rcadmin) is reviewing for next months RCU magazine and it is NOT a beginners plane. (not sure of the make, i think its a great planes...)

I also have heard a few good things about the skybolt from great planes but I have no personal expirience with it.

what you can do now to get yourself ready for a "hotter" plane is to turn your avistar into an acrobat.

increase the control throws a bit at a time. get familiar with it each time until you are comfortable.
also bring the CG back on the plane a 1/4" or so at a time so make it more aerobatic.

most people dont realize that their old trainer can be a great "second" plane with a little work.

I did the above mods to a few trainers and I could do rolls, loops, snaprolls, inverted flight, flat spins (really nice flat spins), hammerheads, tailslides, and tumbles. also its the plane you are comfortable with so you can really push yourself without too much worry (just make sure you got a bit of altitude)

play around with the above mods... and you will be suprised what a docile little trainer can do.

If you're still cutting your teeth (so to speak) go with the Hog Bipe. Anything else would be tricky for a rookie.

Anyone have real pictures of the Sig Hog Bipe? The one at Sig's website is from the back and is a bad angle.

Here's a page full of them...

http://zeus.rcwizard.com/fubar_hill/sighog.html

I have a hog bipe that I am going to start. The front is a little ugly itlooks similar to the 4* or the astro hog.

Here is a couple a friend and I built.

Wonderful flyers