First bi-plane
 

I have been flying for several years and an thinking about a bipe. People I know have many different models so is there one that is still available, hopefully an ARF, that is easy or easiest to fly? I want .46 two stroke power I guess. Our club has a grass field so no small wheels like the e power planes.

Sig makes a plane called the Ultimate. The one i'm referring to has a profile fuse and is all lazer cut. It builds fast, flies well & a good .46 will fly it. I flew mine on a 52 four stroke. This will get your feet wet on a bipe.....Gene

If you like scale models a Stearman is a nice flyer. It was used as a trainer during WWI and retains its gentle characteristics in a model. The Sig Hog Bipe is a nice sport biplane model.

One of the more gentle ones is the Tiger Moth. Several different brands are available, just Google "Tiger Moth".

If you're willing to go up in power a bit there are a few ultimates that will fly on a 60 to 90.

Go to Tower and pick up the Skybolt.

You will not find a better flying BiPlane

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLUT7&P=ML

The wing mounting system is nice.

Much easier to land than the Ultimates and far more aerobatic, better glide ratios too.

The only thing with a Tiger Moth is that it's so lightly loaded and so draggy it can be tricky to land in the wind. I wouldn't consider it a good first biplane because of that.

Sig, Hog Bipe! It is kit form only but is a good flier. It was my first biplane, and still flying it. I even got a backup kit on the shelf.
Derrick

The Super Skybolt looks really nice and the price is unbelievable. I have a Great Planes Ultimate Bipe 40, A Sig Hog Bipe, and an Aeromaster Bipe. Each cost a lot more to buld from a kit than the Skybolt ARF.

Oh ..... never mind. I was looking at the "three easy payments" price. The full price is much more believable.

Thanks all. I looked at a lot of hog bipe threads and you tubes. I will check out the sky bolt.

The bolt and hog are fantastic planes but the easiest one to fly is the Moth in any size.

Agree with all suggestions so far, but it depends a lot on what your used to flying and your skills too. Are you looking for aerobatics or just scale flight? The bolt won't fly on a 46 though. The ultimate will. If your not too big on aerobatics , then I would go with the moth.

So far, a lot of great selections. If ur dead set on an ARF, the Skybolt is a fast and easy choice, as well as the Waco Arf that's available. The E Flite Stearman is a nice easy flyer, and it would fly nicely with a good .25 size 2 stroke, even though it's an electric, and it has a 50" wingspan. I have one of those, and it's a fun, lazy day flyer. Myself, I have a Phaeton II with OS 40 FSR, a Sig Skybolt with Webra Speed 61, and an Andrews Aeromaster with a HB 61PDP, and love them all. The easiest of them, and a really stable plane is my Phaeton. I started with it 1st when I wanted to try out a bipe, and it has some dihedral in the lower wing, and really makes it an easy plane to take off and land. These are kit built, and the Phaeton is a easy build. Later if u decide to build, u will learn a lot, and be rewarded with the pleasure of flying ur own creation. I have a Phaeton 90 that is new in the box that I'll be starting in the springtime. By all means, do some more research, read some of the forums, and see what others are suggesting from their own experiences. Good Luck in ur search, and choice-- Dean

I can second the recommendation on the Phaeton. I just rekitted mine a couple weeks ago, but until then it was great. It was like a faster but draggier Cub that was easy to ground handle.

Just remember to keep a couple of clicks of throttle on it while landing until just before touchdown. Due to more drag bipes will quit flying when the throttle is cut on landing. Other than that bipes fly the same as a monoplane.

The Phaeton will float in just like a sport plane. Granted, the glide slope is steeper, but I routinely chopped the throttle on mine 100 feet out and 20 feet up for a nice touchdown.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was referring to the first flights. Being new to bipes and not being aware of that cost me a $25 prop and bent landing gear the very first flight. Also it was an overweight 15lb. airplane. 72in Ugly Stik Bipe with a cockpit and turtle deck added by the previous owner to be exact.

deanz406 has a nice gallery...have a look! Great collection of bipes, very nicely built and I like the colors. That red and silver Aeromaster is my favorite.

Whiptail, there aren't many bipes out there these days. Yet I went ahead with a biplane event in September and about a hundred people showed up, 18 registered pilots and 38 biplanes! They do have a special appeal.

If it must be an ARF, then Maxwell has some. But I really suggest you try building! The Phaeton II suggestion really seems the best for a first bipe with a 46 size engine. Just go for it.

Another route is swap meets. I picked up my Big John for $150 with engine. Then I fixed it up and repainted. Lots of fun...before and after...

I would vote for the "Bolt" too. was an excellent plane. easy take off easy landings.
Looked very nice in the air and always drew comments. Reasonable on the pocket too.

Bait,

Nice rescue............looks like a fun relaxing plane!

Thanks Gizmo, it was really fun to fix up and fun to fly. Note the "was". Wouldn't it look great doing a low slow roll in the evening light? I thought so too.

Next up will be a Flair Puppeteer from a kit I just picked up.

Jim

Been there done that! Putting the finishing touches on my Phaeton 90 with a G-23 on it.

You are going to love that plane. I had a Quadra 72cc on mine and it was a ball. I did enlarge the rudder a great deal though, at least double in size and beefed up the landing gear to handle the weight of the engine. I found that the upper wing needed to be at about 1.5 degrees LESS angle of attack than the lower wing for best flight characteristics. Just a minor difference in the relative incidence made a big difference in how it flew.

I have flown one before with a OS 91 fs, it was doggy because of all the balance weight required in the nose. I had a Lazy Ace that flew well, very scale like nice plane until I let someone fly it and he did exactly what I told him not to do!
He was lucky to leave the field alive! I shamed him into paying for it.
I will post a photo when completed, snowing this am so will spend the morning working on it.

I have built and flown several different bipes,but my favorite is the Skybolt ARF. It much lighter than the kit and the aerobatics are spot on. I fly mine with a Saito 100 and have no complaints about power. You need to keep a little power on during landing but it settles in nicely.
The firewall on the ARF is it's weak spot and highly recommend if you get one,reinforcing it, also take the time to lay a little fiberglass in the wheel pants,especially if you fly off grass.
My first bipe was a kit built GP Ultimate 40 with a Saito 72 and I admit,it was a handful for a first bipe and a little small,which made it harder to see.