obie1,

I've been flying my Hanger 9 Taylorcraft for many years. That's a pretty big wing, so I wouldn't attempt to fly it without the struts.

It may fly without the struts, but why take the chance.

Plus, it looks like the real Taylorcraft owned by Harold Hanson. It was used by Hanger 9 to make the ARF model.

Joe M.