PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

While I'm relatively new to RC flying, my interest in the hobby goes back more than 20 years. I enjoy building as much as flying which led me to post this thread. It will be a nostalgic journey for many and a learning experience for newer participants like me. So, tell us about your favorite biplanes and the plans from which they were built. I'm talking about plan built and/or extinct kits for which plans may be available from the '60's to the present. There are a handful of bipe kits on the market that fall into the .60 to 1.20 size range for sport flying (no 3-D, thank you) and I'm interested in learning about their origins and other designs that have sorta faded into the sunset. Names that come to mind are ACROSTAR, Airmeister, Liberty Sport, Aeromaster Too, Skybolt, and a host of others I've seen in various plans catalogs. I'm interested in building a few of the classic designs from plans and to have input from some 'old-timers' as to the 'best from the past' would be appreciated and enjoyable.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Don't forget the Balsa USA EAA Bipe and the Smith Miniplane. I too am not a 3D guy, but like the old fashioned rock-n-roll aerobatics. Still to date the best flying Bipe of all is the Miles Reed Weeks Solution (it comes in many sizes) with the CG Ultimate a very, very close second. GP Skybolt is third. I have a special place in my heart for all planes with 2 wings, and have owned many of the ones mentioned here. The only thing that makes a Bi-Plane better is to make it bigger. When you make them bigger, the assembly thing comes into play. I will be closely following your thread. Thanks

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Yeah my mind went blank when it came time to type. I hear the Smith Mini-Plane mentioned a lot and have seen some awesome giant Weeks Solutions. Just threw some names out there to get started. How about the Bel-Air? There are so many stories out there and many great looking bipes in the RCM and MAN plans catalogs from the 60' and 70's. In this age of ARF's and electric stuff I feel some good ol' buildin' and barnstormin' need to happen. How about a Great Lakes look-a-like with a G-30 something and tons of smoke? Pull up a chair, guys, and talk about the 'good old days'.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

One of the best flying Bipes I have ever known of has to be the Pica Waco in either 1/5 or 1/6 scale. The older kits (mine) were a lot of work and you had to make the fairings and wheel pants, the cowl was plastic, this thing was work! The kits are still available but now they are much more complete and (I think) laser cut. They fly very well and do all of the scale aerobatics but will nerer be a 3D machine.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Hi Damifino:

Greetings from the 'Valley of the Sun'.

Hal debolts Live Wire Acrobat bipe and his legendary Live Wire Custom Bipe. I built both from kits, but will scratch build from his plans in future and save the kits. Best regards from sunny and warm Phoenix,

Joe Nagy.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Just remembered Pica Jungmister. I also owned a Pilot and Goldberg Jungman. Great flyers.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

You just reminded me that I have a set of plans for a bipe
called "Big John ,one more time" It was considered to be a
huge plane back in the 70's.

Regards
Roby

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I came across a real old set of plans for an "Acrobit" which I believe was an RCM .60 size plan. The design looks interesting enough to put together and I'm looking for info on the plan now.

I'm just shocked that none of you mentioned the Hog Bipe; barnstorming at it's best :D

Bob

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I built a 60 size bipe called Breezee from a kit back in the mid 80's. I still have it but I have managed to lose the top wing somehow. Had a HB 61 PDP on it and it flew quite well.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Not so old but no longer availible the CG Bucker Jungman. I built one and even though it had a short life due to "pilot error" I lover the way it flew. It was a lot to build, more wing ribs than I have ever seen on any plane, but a joy none the less. Maybe they'll bring it back one day.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I just got a Bridi BreeZee. First bipe for me. I am thinking about putting a Saito 72 in it.

What I thought was interesting is, I ordered it from the Bridi website 2 weeks ago, and when I got the kit it had a hand-written note from Joe Bridi taped to the box. It said "Sorry, this is the last one I have" The kit box is dusty and does look like it sat on the shelf for about 20 years, but the contents are in very good shape. I am looking forward to building and flying the plane.


Later!

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Wouldn't mind getting my hands on a set of Breezee plans or kit. Bridi planes are legendary. I just looked at his websitet last week and tried to call a few times to order a Breezee. Word is he's selling down what's left, after that it'll all be gone.......[:o]

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I just bought a Gee Bee Dreamer kit....Will be my 3rd a/c and first real kit build....I hope it is a nice plane...I haven't heard anything about it and can't find any info on the WWW...Anyone have experience w/this Bipe?

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Cunningham Lazy Ace!!

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I really liked my Nosen Gere sport. I have plans for it and am going to scratch build another one. Nice bird.

Also a Midwest bipe stik, but I am blowing that one up a bunch to make it take a 90.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Love my Lazy Ace 77 inc. built from plan, OS 108
lovely, it is my touch and go dream machine
also love my EAA bipe Saito 100
and Super aeromaster Magnum 90 4s
and sterling Waco E on E power
did I say I love bipes

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

You have not flown a Bipe till you fly a Andrews Aero Master!

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I agree with you, fairly fast, very docile, quite aerobatic,I have one and also a kit ready to build a second

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I was posting on another thread here on RCU and was showing off my Pilot Jungman from a while back and while the diskett is still in the "puter" I may as well throw a picture up here also--(even if it is 1/3 scale)

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

im new too im building a somethin extra as my first kit but my second kit im gonna build is a great planes super sporster bipe i really like the looks of the super sportster when i seen the kit for the bipe version i had to have it!! looks cool!!

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I am just finishing up my SE and have ordered a SIG Hog Bipe. I have heard good things about them and I do not have a bipe in my collection yet. Am looking forward to building and flying it.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I have a set of Great Planes Super Aeromaster plans. A co-worker and myself are going to build a couple of these. What wing configuration is better? Both swept looks better in my opinion, but what are the flight differences between the two versions shown on the plans? He had one several years ago and loved it. Was the Super Sportster Bipe a Great Planes kit or plans? I've got a Great Planes Super Sportster .40 and really enjoy it.

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

the supersportster bipe is a kit but its discontinued i was lucky when i got this one or so i was told its in great shape:D

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

Heres my scratch built Lazy Ace..It was originally 62" but I stretched the wings to 68" Saito 100 for power

RE: PLANS and BIPES: Your Favorites From The Past
 

I have to also go with the Aeromaster and I also like the Hiperbype from the 70's, now there's a plane that has the right name![X(] The problem is I love bipes but hate building wings!!!![&o]