GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Well opening day at the field came last Sunday and I decided to bring the new bird out for its first flight. When I got to the field, some of the senior members came over and gave it a once over and said "Beautiful job". I turned to one of the trusted senior members and asked if he could take her up as I dont have the experience with such a powerful and agile bird.

Specs - 56" wing Span
OS 91FX spinning a 14x6 3 blade prop
Weight - approx 8lbs.
Monokote covering

Off She Went
 

Well anyway,
Three of the members checked all the control throws and found that there was way too much travel. So with my Handy Futaba 6xas computer radio, that was quickly remedied. Next was the Radio check, Balance, hardware check, then the green light was given to fire her up.
He took the plane for a little taxi up and down the field and after the third round, up she went. And boy did it go up. Everyone at the field watched and commented on how great its tracking. A few high speed flybys, a loop and some inverted flight then it was time to land as he felt it was running a little rich. It was comming in with a nice approach and at about 8 feet above the field, the engine quits while my heart stops. But not to fear, he greased a perfect landing with no stall. He gave the controller back and said he only put a little left trim on the ailrons. no other changes need to be made to the plane. He also mentioned that he was only flying on half throttle.
Oh what a feeling to see your creation take off.
Now it will hang in my ceiling until I can get a little more stick time on the cheaper planes.

GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Great looking plane, glad to hear it flew well too.

Did you do anything to lighten it? 8lbs seems a good low weight.

Don't let it hang in the ceiling too long, it is far too nice a plane to spend its life there.

GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Great looking Skybolt. Here's mine!
I'm glad to hear it flew good. A sign of a good builder!
Mine weighs 9.2lbs, OS 1.08 engine.
Weather here has been terrible..rain.....rain.....rain.
5 months to build....and waiting to fly. Raining again today!!
Tom

Great job
 

I love the color. I see you user just black grit die on your canopy like me. Makes it kind of gold colored.
The weight I posted on my plane is just a guess, It is probably heavier as are yours.

Good Luck Flying.

PS Its raining here as well in NJ.

GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

firefox144, nice Skybolt. Don't leave it in the hangar too long.

RE: GP Super <span class=
 

That is the reason to take an extra pair of underwear at every maiden flight.:D

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

I'm going to sound stupid but what exactly how you get the canopie like that?

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

My Skybolt is in the basement waiting for the weather and dandelions to clear up. I'm nervous just thinking about that first flight.

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

jucava - to get the canopy to look like that, Pick up a box of "Rit" dye (Black) at your local grocery store. Fill a pan (that's big enough to submerse the canopy) with warm water, add the dye, and soak the canopy until you achieve the desired tint.

Note: Black dye will give that gold color. If you want the canopy black use both black and blue dye.

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Thanks MinnFlier. I couldn't resist and ordered a Skybolt this morning, It has been keeping me awake during the night and have to sell my Big Stik(great flier) sniff.....; any thing to have more biplanes in the hangar; is this biplane thing addictive? I find my self only owning biplanes lately, I have to get my an Edge 540, o no here we go again and I need to get some sleep time.

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

jucava,
I've been finding myself leaning towards bipes recently too. I have a Great Lakes with an OS 70 Surpass in the bones waiting for covering (may sell it, it's a Model Tech with a bad reputation), a Phaeton II and a Skybolt, both waiting to be built.

My Super Sportster Bipe has to be stripped, repaired and recovered. Damage from a couple of minor crashes has added up, and I don't want to lose it. They're getting very hard to find. :(
Dennis-

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

I have in flying condition only a Phaeton II and a Hog Bipe(muffler repair so no big deal). And that is it, from time to time I get to fly my buddys biplanes but is not the same as flying your own bipe you know.

Tell me how do you like the Phaeton? Gentle flier, maybe too gentle?

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Where do you get the spinner, do you have to trime it?

I want the same thing with mine, so any advice is welcome..

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

You can order a three blade spinner from Tru Turn but it will set yo back about $80.00

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

i to find my selr only wanting to fly bipes my current one is a zaroli stearman bipe 60 size that i am scratch building

RE: GP Super Skybolt First Flight
 

Hey that should be nice plane