Hey guys, I am looking for a good sport bipe kit. One that calls for about a .90 4 stroke or so. It doesn't matter if it is IMAA legal or not, but that would be a bonus.

Are there models like this that are easy to assemble initially, and ones that go together good at the field. I would hate to have to spend 30 mins at the field getting everything together and ready for flight.

I am new to bipes, but would like some input on what would be a good first one.

Thanks

I don't know of any sport bipes in this size. There are several in the 40 size and a few in the 120 size but not much in the 90 4 stroke size. I have a 40 size GP ultimate and a 62 inch Lazy ace bipe with a TT91 4 stroke on it. I am currently looking for a 60/90 size ultimate or something similar. Dave Patrick has a nice 120 size and Sig makes a nice ultimate. They are a little expensive but are very nice planes. If you find something in the size that you are looking for post it here as alot of people are looking for something like that.

Rick

Try to find an Aeromaster kit or plans. It's a great bipe and will fly nicely with a 90 4S.

Santa dropped off a Goldberg Ultimate 10-300 kit, and I was planning on hangin a saito .91 on it. I have heard that the .91 would power it nicely, not overpowered, and i have also heard that it has awesome flight characteristics. Am building an A-10 now ( Model Airplane News Plans ) gonna tackle the Ultimate once I get the warthog wrapped up. Have to build somethin to smash in the spring ! Not sure what I'd do if there were no winter !! haha

Wow, nobody's mentioned the Sig Hog-Bipe yet. Perfectly sized for a .91 4stroke! Covered in film it can come in under 8 lbs. easy and flys great at that weight. Easy take-offs and landings, gentle stall behavior. There's a broad range of performance controlled by c.g. placement and control throws. It's not a precision aerobat like a pattern plane or a 3D plane in stock form, but is capable of any traditional aerobatic manuevers and looks great doing them!

If you're comfortable with a high-powered, low wing, aerobatic monoplane you shouldn't have trouble flying the Hog. Maybe have someone more experienced give it a test flight and even get on the trainer cord for a flight or two. While it's not tricky to fly, it's fairly fast and responsive, rolls quickly, and has no self-correction behavior. In short, it might be hard to "stay in front of it" for a couple of flights.

The kit has all ply parts laser-cut and balsa parts nicely die-cut. Typically excellent Sig wood quality. I don't think a biplane can be designed simpler or easier to build. Instructions and plans are very complete, clear, and helpful.

I recommend moving the main gear forward maybe 3/4 in. for easier ground handling especially on grass without nosing over. Also, with a heavy .91 4stroke like a Thunder Tiger, I think you can shorten the nose about 1/2 in. It's designed for a light .60 2stroke.

Check out [link=http://www.fubarhill.com]fubar hill[/link] for many pics, mods, and tips on the Hog-Bipe!
Please look at my Hogs at [link=http://www.ida.net/users/paulbrab]www.ida.net/users/paulbrab[/link]
Join the cult of the Big Sig Pig!

The Phaeton 90 Bipe from Balsa USA is easy to build and easy to fly. Also, field assembly is easy and quick. It is not an all-out aerobatic machine, but will do all of the simple stuff such as loops, rolls, cuban eights, inverted flight, etc.

Umm... in case no one has mentioned it, I think a Sig Manufacturing Hog Biplane would be a good choice for a .91 Four-Stroke engine.

Although it's not a 90 4-stroker IMAA, Have you checked out the Clancy Stagger Bee?

It's one cool, "odd?" plane. I plan on putting one together someday.

Erik

I would say the Sig Hog if you just want "Sporty", and the Goldberg Ultimate if you want "Sporty Plus".

HOG BIPE ALL THE WAY!!

Nothin' flies like a Hog!

Bob

I wouldn't rule out the Goldberg Ultimate. It is one sweet airplane. Makes you look like a better pilot than you are. He, he. It would be a great sport flier with a 90-4C. Ballistic with a 120. It builds very fast and comes out straight. I also have a Hog Bipe waiting on the shelf. I'm thinking I'll do it up like a Great Lakes Special with a custom cowling and black and orange paint. Next project maybe...

I was going to say the ultimate until I saw swoopers hog, man thats a goodlooking plane! Too close to call buy them both!!!!

Do a search here in the forums for the now out of production Walt Mucha Charger Mk II. It has a 60" span making it IMAA legal and will fly very nicely on a .90 size 4-stroke. The wing area is just over 1000 sq.'s so it's pretty easy to fly as well. If you can find one on the second hand market, they are worth the effort to build, though even that's not too tough. I built mine in 11 days.

John

Hey guys, Thanks!

It seems everyone is really into the Hog Bipe. I was looking at this one and almost purchased it when i saw this mentioned in the comments at Tower Hobbies web site "It is not recommended as a first tail dragger as it does require some ground handling skills and throttle modulation upon take off and landing."

Should i be worried about this, or just hit the buddy cord for the first few flights? Like i say this is my first bipe, but won't be the first tail dragger. I have a Tiger 60 that will be converted to a tail dragger very soon to get some tail dragger practice on. Is this enough, or should i do more?

Thanks for the input and keep it coming, Please!

Fly the tiger as a tail dragger for a while and you should be fine. Bipes have a lot of drag and slow realy quickly. Buddy cord for the first few flight is not a bad idea tho.

I totaly forgot about the Sig Hog bipe. It is a perfect plane for a 90 size 4 stroke. There are 2 of them flying in my club and they fly great and look even better. I have been thinking about the Goldberg Ultimate but have heard that they are dogs with a 91 size 4 stroke engine on them. I just like to sport fly and don't do any wild things with my planes. Would this plane fly good with a 91 on it. I have been thinking about other planes because of some of the things that I have heard. I would like the ultimate but don't want to have to get a 120 engine.

Rick

The Hog Bipe is a great plane. Only bad thing I found out recently is that it is really squirrely on pavement. On grass I never noticed. Flies great with a Saito 91. It will hang on the prop easy. A Saito 100 would be even better. It won't really do precision aerobatics (or maybe I can't) but it will do alot of fun manuevers.

Rick, the Goldberg Ultimate flies fine with a 91 four-banger. I know of one with an OS 91 (not the Surpass, the original, which was not exactly a powerhouse), that does mild aerobatics quite well. You do want to keep it as light as possible, but that is true with any airplane. All this so-called "3D" business is fine for those who enjoy it, but the CG Ultimate is one of the best-flying models I've owned. I built the kit 12 years ago, with an OS 120, and am flying the ARF now with a Laser 150. Both are way over-powered at full throttle, for "normal" flying.

Just be sure to use two aileron servos. The kit provides hardware (bellcranks, etc.) for a single aileron servo driving four alierons. Not the best arrangement.

I am still trying to decide on my next project. I have 2 bipes already and want a larger ultimate or pitts. i have a GP 40 size ultimate and a 62 inch lazy ace bipe. I don't know what it is but the lazy ace doesn't do anything for me. It is a very nice looking and flying plane but I just want another ultimate. I have been seriously looking at the GP 1/3 scale pitts. I have a practically new zenoah G-45 that needs a home. I just don't know if I am quite ready to jump into that kind/size of plane yet. I really love the Dave Patrick ultimate but cannot get one right now. I like the looks of the Goldberg but would really like something a little bigger. Oh well I have to decide soon.

Rick

I built a Balsa USA Phaeton II last year, and I have a Hog Bike just about ready to cover. My Phaeton II flys beautifully with a Saito 80 up front. It is easy to takeoff and land on a paved runway and it looks great in the air. I couldn't be more pleased with it's flying. Obviously I can't comment on the Hog's flight yet but will try to have a flight report this spring.

I will comment on the kits and some differences in building.

Neither kit would be suitable for an inexperienced builder. Both kits have clean die cut parts and the Hog has laser cut plywood parts. The choice of wood in both kits was excellent, with only minor substitutions. On the Phaeton II the cabane, and interplane struts are formed wire and require some accurate wrapping and soldering to assemble. I made a jig to hold the pieces in place for soldering, and don't believe I could have done the job without it. It is a complex assembly and any slop will make the rigging of the wings almost impossible. Once everything is assembled and rigged, it is a strong structure. Assembly at the field is not bad if you have four hands available but with only two it is a pain. I made a cradle to fit the bed of my truck and transport it assembled.

The Hog Bipe has an entirely different approach to mounting the wings. Two preformed aluminum struts form the superstructure to support the upper wing, and with a little care, can be installed accurately with little fuss. The interplane struts are plywood and are attached with three bolts each. If everything is accurately done they should fit. It doesn't take much to cause problems. My first fit up just wouldn't quite line up and after some suitable words, I had to plug one of the mounting holes in the upper wing, and redrill it about 1/16 inch over. If everything doesn't fall into place, any forcing will result in a warp of the wing. Once everything is right, it should be relatively easy to assemble at the field. Plug in the aileron lead, bolt the wings in place and attach the interplane struts. I'm guessing ten minutes at most.

Other than the wing supports, the remaining parts are conventional balsa and lite ply construction, and other than a higher parts count should go as well as most monoplane kits.

Based on several suggestions from other builders, I did move the main landing gear forward about 3/4 inch. I don't know if it will help but it looks better.

I'm not sure who says a CG Ultimate is a dog with a 90 four stroke. I've owned it with a OS 91 Surpass and and a Saito FA120S. The 91 will fly everything except a knife-edge loop. With the 91 it comes out super light and handles sweet. With a 120 it can do some mild 3D but you feel the weight.

try to find a kit of the discontinued SIG SKYBOLT

Great Planes has a kit of the Super Skybolt, but it is a builders kit.
It's a great sport bipe.

Good luck in your quest.



Tom

the sig one is also a builder's kit