Das Box Fly (Bipe)

The kit was given to me many years ago as appreciation for instruction and framed up before the many years out of the modeling hobby.  After getting active, all of the airplane stuff was taken down from storaage in the outbuilding rafters and the bipe was hung on the wall in the building room simply to show its art form as I'd no serious intentions of finishing it as my interest area is larger planes.

A few months ago, a modeler in Sweden commented that the Das Box Fly had been a favorite model with around 250 flights before it was lost and had served as recreation during his university years.  His comments inspired me to rethink and consider finishing the model and a month or so ago, a NIB Saitio .30 four stroke was acquired at a great price with the idea in mind of fitting it to and finishing the Das Box Fly.

Completed but not yet flight tested, I'm actually as excited about flying it as is typically for the larger planes.  It will finish out at under 3.5 lbs and should be a slow flier on the wings, which does suit my interest.

Flight

The plane has now been flown several times and is a fine flyer.  As expected due to its lightness, it is nimble and gets airborne quickly with the Saito .30.   It flies nice at half power and full power offers some good vertical performance.  Typical of biplanes, it is quite aerobatic but slow due to drag and because of the slow speed and light wing loading is comfortable to fly in a small close box.  Slow with lighter loading is what I've come to enjoy, so the plane fits me nicely so I'm glad for finally finishing it.

Contrary to some of what was written about it, it has very good ground manners.  Takeoffs have yielded no ground loops or squirrely run ups... it tracks out straight and gets airborne without issues.  The same is true for landings, it sets down slow and gentle without issues.  However, because it doesn't have a tail wheel, it doesn't taxi very well.

It is a fun plane to fly so makes for a worthful plane in the hanger... and it looks good... getting lots of good compliments at the flying field for both its looks and flight performance.