I`m still going to be practicing for a good while with my Avistar, but am seriously considering a 4*60 ARF for a first tail dragger/low wing trainer. Two questions:1. What would be a good 4 stroke for this plane and 2. Would it be good preparation for a bipe? Dreaming of Tiger Moths and PT-17`s ( WAY down the road!! Thanks for any help.

The 4* is a really nice plane. Either the OS 70 or the YS 63 would be good choices for this plane. Get some experience with a more manuverable plane before trying the bipes.

War Eagle!

EXCAP232

:Not sure on training for a bipe, but I have a 4* that holds a saito 91 up front and she is very sweeeeet!! I love these birds and they handle anything.

I second the Saito .91 That's what's on mine and I LOVE it. However, I have friends with same plane and a Saito 100, and another with a YS 91 and they both have near unlimited vertical.
Mine will hold a hover, but struggles when pulling out, where theirs are like mine but on steroids. Give er a little throttle and it's bye bye It all depends on your flying style, the smaller engines will fly the plane on the wing great, but the more powerful can fly it on the prop when needed.

If you are the "Tim Allen" type (arrr arrr arrr ) go for the extra power, you wont be sorry.

Oh, and for what it's worth, my 4* is easier to fly than my trainer was. I like it so much, I am building another one this winter so it will be ready when the "expiration date " comes around on this one.
Dwight Hayden

any thing from a 70 up to a 150, your choice.

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. Yeah Excap, you guys flat deserved it this year! Congrats!!

The 4* is very similar to the Bingo I have. I use a OS.91 Surpass on it and love. I think the OS is easier to break in than the Saito but both are in my hanger and both are excellent engines.

I have not flown a 4* but I can asure you that the Bingo's flight envolope is manuverable enough to use as training for a bipe so I see no reason the 4* would not be the same.

I have had 2-4* and they are as stated wonderful planes, BUT they are not a prep for a bipe. They float all day and do not have the drag on approach that a bipe has. You can cut the throttle to idle and float a 4* in like a trainer. On a bipe you have to keep up air speed or you will stall and drop like a stone. I have 4 Bipes in my hanger which are a Sig Hog, 4-40 Bipe- Airomaster Too and a Ultimate. All need certain input to fly that are nothing like the 4*s I had. I am not saying the bipes are hard to fly just that a 4* dosen't give you the practice for them.

The DiBo

And as long as you know that it's still a little ways in the future, why not get the kit instead of the ARF? You can start building it now and learn valuable building skills. And while they may cost the same in the long run, for now you just need to buy the kit and some glue. Later you can pick up a pair of wheels and a tank. A few paychecks after that, you can buy a few rolls of covering, etc.

Nice to hear so many of you like the 4*.

I have one I haven't started yet, but I am looking forward to it.

Can I ask the advice from all those of you who have flown this beast?

What will the performance be with a Super- Tigre 90 2 stroke up front?????

Thanks for your help.


Sidekick.

plane will fly faster,have more vertical.have higher idle, use more gas,lots of good 90's on the market,I'm not to sure about the new Super-Tigre.

First of all no matter how big the engine you put in a plane, it will reach the point that it will fly only so fast. And a 90 is way to much engine for the 60 4*. Don't get me wrong you can use it but is too much, and why add the extra weight. I see what the max suggested power the manufacture recommends and go with that. Second the design of the 4* 60 and how the wing is framed up has a twist factor if you exert to many Gs on it. Is not a D tube construction. Is the reason they tell you to use film rather than fabric to cover the wing with, to arrive at a certain tinsel strength. You can overcome this by copying the inner ribs in front of the spar to allow for a 1/16" sheeting, thus creating a D tube. Will negate the twist/tork of the wings. I fly with 4 different men that fly 4* s as i do and the most we put in them is a 91 4 stroke. And fly it with that at half throttle. A 70 4s will fly it very nicely with plenty of power. The 90 4 stroke will give you unlimited vertical but remember this is not really a 4d type of plane even though will perform many stunts.

DiBo

Have a buddy with a Saito 72 on the nose, that 4* really flies nice! I agree with Dennis, you can only make a 4* go just so fast. It is not a clean design and has a thick airfoil. The 72 seems to be a good match for it.