First Bipe??
 

Any reccomendations on a first Bipe - would like the flight characteristics of a Hog Bipe but better lookin' and not so labor intensive

First Bipe??
 

Check out the Great Planes Super Skybolt. It's a fine flying and good looking plane, but the build is more involved than on the Hog Bipe IMO.

First Bipe??
 

You can easily bash the hog bipe's tail feathers to change the look. I rounded mine out and added about an inch. Changes the look quite a lot.

Check out some variations and info on the Hog at Fubar Hill , unofficial home of the Hog Bipe. (check the left hand links)

It's a great first bipe (though in truth it was my second one :) )

Nuker

First Bipe??
 

I am getting a radial cowl for my Hog bipe. It should spruce it up quite a bit. Great flying airplane. Don't rule it out immed.
Good luck
Brian

First Bipe??
 

Wow - you guys like the ol'hog, I think I wil take your advise and get one, for sure change the tail feather looks.

First Bipe??
 

And yet another joins the brotherhood of the Hog Bipe. Welcome ........ :D

First Bipe??
 

If your looking for something easy to build, DON'T build the GP or Andrews Aeromaster 60. I'm about half done and I must admit the wings are tough and time consumming. I'm building version 3 (52" x 52" & both swept back). Plane is a great flyer. I can't believe it was my 3rd or 4th plane back in 1977 however it only lasted about a dozen flights and I splattered it. I now have both kits and they are identical except for some cosmetic differences.

Hog Bipe
 

You just can't beat the hog bipe. It is easy to build, looks good and flies great. It is a steal for the money as long as you don't mind building. It is pretty tough too.

I have two, first time I have owned two of the same airplanes while they are both flyable. I made one up like a Stearman, blue fuselage with yellow wings and tail. I rounded off my tail surfaces and it looks pretty good. Powered it with a Magnum .91 4-stroke for a cheap combination that has just enough power to pull it out of a hover. Great for an everyday flyer, barnstorming, and shooting a bunch of touch and goes.

Second one I modified the tail and left off the rounded wingtips. I also added a canopy from a great planes .40 sized extra 300. It looks a lot like a straight wing ultimate bipe, but actually flies a little better than one. This one is powered by a magnum 1.08 2-stroke for another cheap but powerful combo (I like the 4-stroke better). I have 3D sized surfaces and throws on it and it will do anything I am capable of. Elevators are really fun and you can get a stable harrier pass if you practice.

To attest to the strength of this plane, I buried it the first flight. The solder joint on my elevator pushrod came undone and it went straight in. When I found it, it was sitting on the leading edges of both wings, with nothing left in front of the wing. Buried it so hard it bent the cranck on the engine about 15 degrees. I had a new nose on it in less than a week and flying again the next weekend. I checked everything over, and nothing else was cracked or broke.

The only problem I have ever had was a few CA hinges breaking. This is because of the extreme throws I am trying to get. In fact this last weekend I noticed my elevator acting a little mushy and it was bouncing around some. I landed and all the hinges were broke on the right side and only two remained on the left. It still held together and flew fine, never once fluttered even with several high speed fly bys. Can't tell you how much of an idiot I feel like. I will be doing a better pre-flight from now on.

The original two are still flying and I will probably build another one this winter. Maybe put a Saito 100 4-stroke in it or something. You can also get several different cowls to fit it, fiberglass specialties sells one specifically made for it, and several of the .40-.60 sized cap and extra cowls can be fit as well. Good luck and have fun with it.

Makin' Bacon!
 

Yeah, as a first Bipe you cannot beat the Hog. Frames in your lap, easy to finish, small enough to haul around whole (whole hog) and it flies just fine.

I'd still like to get a a good Ultimate, but I like my Hog

http://www.devino.org/mark/airplanepics/hog.jpg