02/22/2008 Ordered
Today I ordered from Tower Hobbies, FMA Direct and Castle Creations.

03/03/2008 Mostly assembled
The kit arrived last week and I spent a couple nights working on it.  This is the highest quality kit (actually an ARF) that I have ever worked on.  Normally when I assemble a plane, I see something that I would have done differently, and sometimes I actually do it "my way".  I haven't found anything on this kit that I think should be done differently.  Great Planes even installed strings inside the fuse and wings to pull the servo wires through with.  Normally I see wheel pants in a kit and just throw them away.  They're clumsy and more trouble than they're worth.  The wheel pants with the Reactor Bipe are fiberglass molded, pre-painted and even have a notch to hold them perfectly on the landing gear.  Still, I think their days are numbered with my choices of flying fields.  The cowl doesn't have any ugly screws on the outside holding it on, it's held there with magnets.  The battery door on the bottom of the plane is also held on with magnets.  One difficult thing will to be to change out the battery without damaging the top of the plane.  If I can remember to bring a blanket, towel or a jacket, the plane can be set upside down on that to protect it during battery swaps.  The instructions call for cutting out a section of Ultracote on the bottom to install the receiver.  I fought this for a while and looked at using longer servo extensions to avoid it.  But then I thought of another reason for the hole.  It's a ventilation hole to keep the motor, battery and speed control cool.  Air comes in the cowl openings, runs through the plane and exits this hole in the bottom.  Looks a little strange when the plane is complete, but at least it's functional.

All that is left is to install the receiver due to arrive today via UPS.  Also coming is the flight batteries.  Hopefully this coming weekend I'll find a suitable flying field and take it on it's maiden voyage.

03/04/2008 First Flight
After work, the sun had set not long ago, sky was a little dark.  I took the Reactor Bipe up for it's first flight.  I had set the low rates to the manufacturers high Rates, and I set the high Rates to the physical limitations of the control surfaces.  As usual, the manufactures high rate settings were barely enough to maintain control.  I managed to complete the flight without going to my high rates, but I'm definitely going to give the low rates more authority.  I flew a couple patterns, then started lining up for the landing.  It was getting dark real fast.  First approach was a joke.  This definitely isn't a GP Reflection.  The Reactor glides forever.  My bosses boss at work had suggested flaperons earlier in the day and I think that's a great idea.  Anyways, after passing the runway at about 40MPH and 30 feet up, the next approach was about half that speed and height.  Still wasn't good enough to touch down.  The runway was an "L" shaped corner around a building.  Not ideal, but whatever.  The third and final approach was much better.  I lined it up between the light pole and the tree, brought it down, thought about going around, committed to the landing and it all worked out well.  Overall, I really like the plane.  I think it looks awesome, it's built smart and strong and flies well.  I'm anxious to fly in the daylight, with a decent runway and see what this thing can do.

03/05/2008 Flaperons
I programmed Flaperons in the Reactor Bipe this evening.  On the 12z, I put the trim adjustment on the back dial (left hand).  The flaperon movement is just a few degrees right now and can be up or down.  I had a Piper Cub in the past where spoiling the air on top of the wing was much more effective, so I'd like to try both.  Since the 12z doesn't have a "Flaperon" program, I used "Airbrake" without any elevator compensation.

03/06/2008 Tested the flaperons
I flew twice today at work.  Moving the ailerons down for flaps seemed to work nicely.  A lot more throw is required than what I have.  I knew that would be the case though.  It seemed to slow the glide a bit, so that's good.

Later in the evening, I adjusted all the flaperon throw in the down direction which also doubled the travel.  Eventually I'll dial in the elevator to compensate, but for now it's just the ailerons.

03/16/2008 Quick flight
Lucas really wanted to see a plane fly today.  Even though the wind was gusting pretty bad, we drove down to the high school and had a quick flight on the football field.  I really didn't think the plane was going to come back in one piece as the wind was twice as bad about 20 feet up.  I flew a few circuits, then landed best I could.  It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't damaged either.

04/16/2009 Update
Over the last year I've flown the Reactor Bipe quite a few times.  It's a fun plane to fly and is still going strong.

01/08/2012 Update
I've flown this plane a few times in the past few years.  Still an awesome flyer.