Going to purchase a Bipe shortly and I am trying to decide between the Pitts and the Ultimate. Both are the same price ish from nitro planes. I am going to get a 40 size as money is tight and I have an extra engine. This will be my first Biplane and I am worndering which one is easier to fly.
Thanks in advance...

Anyone??

Pitts will be a bit more docile but both planes are similar in the 40 size airframe.

Thanks for the reply. Don't mean to sound ignorant, but does more docile mean easier or harder to fly?

easier...

easier not so twitchy.

Bipes are not beginner planes.

Ever flown the Goldberg .60 sized Ultimate? Easy as any trainer with conservative throws.

Thanks for the replies. I plan on flying my Superstar and kadet lt 40 a lot more before I fly this. I was just draw to the looks of the bipes. And it will be fun to put together...
I appreciate the help. I'll go with the Pitts. I think they look better as well

If you want an Ultimate, look at the World Models .40 size. It is a great flying airplane, all usable hardware, good support from the distributor, etc.

www.airborne-models.com

While the covering scheme may be similar, it is not the same plane as sold by Nitro Planes.

I will second this motion. The World Models version is a lot better. It was my first bipe a few years back. The only negative I have on it is as with all World Models... Toughlon Covering is horrible stuff. But every WM plane I ever bought flew very well... I cannot say the same for the other manufacturer (I mean distributor).

Ditto, the World Models is a better plane.

And BTW, a Pitts is NOT easier than an Ultimate.

In fact, the Ultimate was based on the Pitts. The designer started with a Pitts, and designed a better wing for it. That worked so well that he built a whole new plane around the new wing.

Yea, don't build one from a kit, terrible build. A scratch build has been easier.

I know it,s not a Pitts or an Ultimate ,but the GP Skybolt , is a great first Bipe . It,s the only ARF I own and I have a new one in the box for a back up. Great flying Bipe and you can see it so much easier than the small .40 size Bipes.

That skybolt does look nice, but a little out of our price range. With 3 little ones and hristmas on it's way I have to clear these things by the wife, which isn't too easy...
That Ultimate 40s by Airborne models looks great. Still researching. Any other input would be greatly appreciated....

I feel like you do.  Bipes have a special look to them.  I am considering a bipe for my next build after the Tiger I am getting in 11 days now!!!
I know its a more challenging build, but I really like the Stearman.  I havent looked at which MFR to go with yet.  Truth is it may be a few years before I build a Stearman.  My dream Stearman will have a multi-cylinder, possibly radial engine.  Big bucks there.  I may hafta go with one of the models you guys mentioned first, just to get my bipe groove goin.  I will stay in the 60 or larger size.  Just easier for me to see. 
Good luck with whichever model you choose.

I totally understand, but here,s what really happens. The kids grow up leave the home and start their own family , then you have the kids and also the Grankids to by for, in my case9 grankids, . And worth every penny ' lol
Good luck on your Bipe search.

Ultimate is a better plane in any size, floats much more forgiving than a pitts.

my experience is an ultimate will float pretty nice, a Pitts has a much faster sink rate. if your not used to controlling your decent with throttle, start practicing with your trainer before flying the Pitts. if you're used to using the elevator,( cutting the throttle and floating the plane in) you'll likely end up stalling the Pitts.

In general, that's a pretty good way to stall any bipe, especially on landing. Good throttle managment on approach is required with a bipe. When you start to fly the bipe, find someone to buddy box with you. You'll find you enjoy the plane much longer that way. Just my .01

Um...doesn't that mean it's an entirely redesigned plane?

That's exactly what it means. It's an entirely new plane that flies better than a Pitts.

I can't speak for the Pitts, but I do have the 40 size Ultimate from Nitro Planes. Most of the hardware that comes with the plane is horrible, and the instructions are almost impossible to read. Chinglish in the worst way! The plane itself looks good out-of-the-box. The covering job was good and it was built light. If you do choose to go with the Ultimate, I would recommend re-gluing everything you can reach. I also added a plywood plate on the wings where the wing bolt holes are. It just didn't seem strong enough to me.

That said, I love the way the Ultimate flies. It is NOT a beginners airplane. I have an OS 46 on mine and it screams. It lands pretty fast and handles the wind pretty well.

Experience will teach you that Nitro Planes is not very good about stocking spare parts (or providing customer service). If you need a new canopy or wing kit, buying a second kit is about the only way to get it, but at $100 for an ARF it's a hard deal to beat when money is an issue.

I have several of the WM Models Ultimates along with several of the same sized Nitroplanes Ultimates.

I can't say that the WM version is heads above the NP model on any factor.

Each version has it's pluses and minuses. I listed the differences between the two somewhat systematically on one of the NP forum posts.

The instructions provided are the same for both, and I suspect that the NP version is a slightly older design of the WM version.

I do like the WM clear cowl cutting guide, and I wish other vendors would do something like this.

The NP version uses a balsa sheet over foam turtle deck which I prefer, while the WM has a slightly better cowl.

Edit: Hangar 9 has picked up this idea, YAYH!!!



I could not pick out a clear winner.

Both fly identically if set up the same way.

As far as parts, I ended up picking up a couple of spare ARFs from each vendor, as this was ultimately cheaper than seeking replacement parts.

Thank you all for the replies. I have decided that a bipe is a big step up from a trainer and am going to purchase a GP Escapade for a second plane. I will also be purchasing a bipe soon and am still considering the Nitroplanes and the Airborne one that someone mentioned earlier. I love the look of the ultimates, but don't want to just jump right to it and crash it...