Why so few Biplanes? (Build Challenge)

[BadPanda]

I love biplanes. I would like to scratch build one from foam board, but there are very few plans available and none that I can find for a 30 to 40 wingspread. I don't think the smaller FT biplanes will scale up well, but I will look at that again. I'm getting to be a fair builder but I don't know enough yet to design my own Biplane. I'm working on a couple of simpler designs (Mono plane) and there is plenty of help with design considerations and spec calculators, but i can't seem to find anything on design for biplanes.
I'd love to see the Flite Test guys design a Stearman or a Stager wing something nice and athletic with a C motor.

 

[Grifflyer]

I love biplanes. I would like to scratch build one from foam board, but there are very few plans available and none that I can find for a 30 to 40 wingspread. I don't think the smaller FT biplanes will scale up well, but I will look at that again. I'm getting to be a fair builder but I don't know enough yet to design my own Biplane. I'm working on a couple of simpler designs (Mono plane) and there is plenty of help with design considerations and spec calculators, but i can't seem to find anything on design for biplanes.
I'd love to see the Flite Test guys design a Stearman or a Stager wing something nice and athletic with a C motor.

I have some beta plans for a SNS2 Guppy negative stagger biplane, let me know if you're interested and I'll send them to you.

 

[BadPanda]

I have some beta plans for a SNS2 Guppy negative stagger biplane, let me know if you're interested and I'll send them to you.

That looks like a fun build. Could build it 1/3 scale and it would be about the same size as my Apprentice. I would very much like to look at the plans.

Dave

 

[FoamyDM]

I love biplanes. I would like to scratch build one from foam board, but there are very few plans available and none that I can find for a 30 to 40 wingspread. I don't think the smaller FT biplanes will scale up well, but I will look at that again. I'm getting to be a fair builder but I don't know enough yet to design my own Biplane. I'm working on a couple of simpler designs (Mono plane) and there is plenty of help with design considerations and spec calculators, but i can't seem to find anything on design for biplanes.
I'd love to see the Flite Test guys design a Stearman or a Stager wing something nice and athletic with a C motor.

I put together the lincoln sport. It's a small biplane. And @nerdnic has a micro tigermoth.

 

[FoamyDM]

Mikey's rc had a fpv biplane. Big lifter, slow one of flite test's very first video was on this plane.

 

[Spacefarer]

You could go the experimental route and cut out two wings for what is meant to be a monoplane. You've got me thinking about turning a simple scout into one now.

 

[DutchRoll]

I'd vote for the Beech Staggerwing.

 

[Michael9865]

PT-17

 

[Ryan O.]

The Mamba would be a great master series bipe. The Ultimate would also be a good normal FT bipe.

 

[The Hangar]

The Mamba would be a great master series bipe. The Ultimate would also be a good normal FT bipe.

@chris398mx designed a mamba...
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/mini-mamba-3d-biplane.60938/

 

[jpot1]

I stretched the baby blender and it flew great. Also did a Pitts look alike that flew well too! Links in my signature.

 

[BS projects inc.]

I'll have to send a picture tomorrow but at Flite Fest I bought two baby blender planes and built them into one. Then made a center nacelle to make it look almost like a gotha bomber.

 

[Vimana89]

This Avro Triplane would be sweet. Maybe less skeletal and more simplified and sporty for foam construction-a box fuse, less sticks, and less and stronger wing supports. The general design has some nice longer aspect/span wings, which it seems like the type you were looking for in a multi wing.

 

[jamboree1]

Around 5 years ago i took Nerdnic's moth minor and changed it into a tiger moth https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/nnmoth-minor-to-tiger-moth-ish-conversion.16365/

 

[Michael9865]

Here is my Mini Aeromaster Inspired Biplane. I mashed a Mini Scout and an Andrews Aeromaster and ended up with a fun little 4 channel biplane.
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/mini-aeromaster-like-biplane.33217/

 

[BS projects inc.]

Historically, most biplanes were created in a time where planes were made out of wood and cloth. Scaling up wooden planes is difficult because of the weight ratio between the engine and air frame. The engine accounted for a large portion of the nose weight, much unlike today planes. The weight of the foam greatly outweighs the weight of the electric motors we use. Took at the DR1 triplane for example. The engine is barely past the front wing but because it makes up a large portion of the weight of the plane, it acts as a very effective nose weight. The mosquito is also a very difficult plane to scale up as well, because it was originally built with wood.

 

[quorneng]

It certainly can be done but it pays to pick the right original to model.
WW1 biplanes with inline engines (SE5, Albatross) have relatively long noses so the electric motor is much further forward than in a rotary power plane.
The alternative is to pick more modern biplanes like the Hawker Hart or the Tiger Moth. Again the inline engines give a reasonable nose length but they do all require 'special' construction to keep the tail end light.

 

[sprzout]

Makes me think I should maybe modify the Baby Blender plans a bit to make a Pitts Christen Eagle. I know the guys in my club would love it.

 

[The Hangar]

I know the guys in my club would love it.

So would we...

 

[BS projects inc.]

A google ww1 biplane would be a fokker d7, I considered making one scaled up for a c pack