I (finally) finished my Great Planes Ultimate Bipe this weekend and may get a chance to take it up for the maiden voyage this evening. I ran a tank of fuel through the new OS .61FX and was amazed. It started in just a few flips and ran as if it had already been broken in. I must admit, though, that for some reason I am a little intimidated by this plane. So for those of you with experience with this model, how does it fly? The throws are per the instructions as is the CG and incidence. I took extensive steps to keep the airframe light when building by cutting extra lightening holes and so on. I'm hoping it will be a good flyer.

It's a great flier!

My son built one a few years ago with an OS 70 Surpass. All through the building I was afraid it might be too hot for him, but the plane flies extremely well.

I built one a while ago. I also used an OS 70 Surpass II. Easy to fly but keep the speed up on landing. The elevator looses effeciency quickly. Should not be a problem just be aware of it.

ksechler Post some pics of your plane. I am thinking of building a Ultimate this winter and want to put a 61fx on it. But it has to fly fast and dead stick ok. I do not expect much from a bip on deadstick but need some. Also have a MDS 58 in my Sig SE. now and flys great. Thanks Good luck fly it like you stoled it.

Mine also has an OS 70 FS engine
with two seperate esrvos in the wings
is an excellent flyer , my battery is in
the middle of the fuselage just behind
the servo tray....
Cheers
Hisham

My GP ultimate is a great flier. It started life with an OS 46FX on it and flew very nicely. I swapped to a Saito 72 and wow what a difference in performance. This was the nicest flying plane that I had. It is very stable and is very easy to land. You have to learn to keep some power when landing. It doesn't like to fly without power. Ultimates glide like a brick when deadstick. The only thing that I disliked about this plane is that it is very hard to see. You need to use some very contrasting colors or you will lose orientation on it in flight. Here are a couple of pictures of mine.

Rick

Guys:

Thanks for the input. I maidened the Ultimate on Monday night. Aside from my knocking knees, things went fine. I had three flights, three landings and the plane is still in one piece. I put a lot of effort into this one and removed plenty of excess material to keep it real light. Then I put an OS .61FX in it.

The first take-off was pretty exciting. I gradually increased the throttle and when the plane had plenty of speed I applied a little back pressure. The plane jumped off the ground and put itself in a vertical climb -and accellerated straight up! It scared me, but when I realized it wasn't going to stall I let it climb to altitude. Once at altitude it took about 4 clicks of down and two clicks of right to trim everything out. I kept it mostly upright and just farted around until my knees quit shacking. Then I lined it up and landed without any problem.

By the third flight I had some confidence and put it through some loops, and rolls. It's a lot of fun to pull vertical and roll it on the upline. I haven't done any snaps or spins yet, but I will in time. Right now I am still trying to get used to the way the plane looks in the sky. Being my first biplane I have a little more trouble "understanding" the planes attitude when I'm doing manuevers. I'm sure it'll come to me in a few more flights.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I take them.

PIcs do you have any pics thanks [email protected]

Had my eyes on this particual plane ever since i started building my GP PT-40. Gonna get one day, even to just bulid it. The kit and model looks so lovely. But i guess this is a 3rd plane at least! Guess i got to find myself a low-wing trainer first... i guess its too much to hope for that this plane can act as an easy 2nd plane if you use low rates/throws on it..?... But i am gonna get one one day !

Btw, do a humble 46FX do the model justice, or does this thing really need a hot 4stroke?

Mine flew very well on a 46FX. It also will fit completely inside the cowl with the slimline pitts muffler. Your vertical performance will not be unlimited but it will be ok. I put around 100 flights on mine before switching over to a saito 72. This plane takes a little getting use to when you start flying it. They are very stable when trimmed and balanced right. It was also the best landing plane that I have ever flown. You have to keep the power on some on your landing approach as the plane will slow down very quickly. It has a nice controlable sink rate and once you figure it out landings are great. This ultimate is small and hard to see and orient on in flight. Until you get use to it you will lose orientation on it every once in awhile. I sold my plane after many good flights and got 2 bigger ones. A goldberg and a 1/4 scale. I love tha way an ultimate flies and will always have one to fly. The GP is the easiest one to put together at the field also.

Rick

I guess both the GP and GoldBerg UltimateBipe is very similar in flying and all that. But as a kit, whats the best one? (easiest to assemble, kit quality, etc)?