My flying buddy has a Ohio R/C Giles, 1/4 scale, in the bones, ready to cover. He has heard a few negative comments about the Giles, and is having some reservations about flying it. It is true that the Extras are the hot item these days, while the Edges, and Caps are fewer, and the Stodacher and the Giles are barely ever seen. Also, it seems that the full scale Giles is no longer being produced. We wonder just what to expect when it comes time to fly the Giles...which was very nicely built by a real craftsman.
Thanks for your comments.

A lot of the comments I've seen about the problems with Caps and a few others (don't remember the Giles in particular) has to do with the often radically tapered wing planform and generally high (by aerobatic standards) wing loadings. When it comes to kits, and to some extent plans, quite often the final wing loading is built in regardless of the quality or care of the builder.

But then that's what hole saws were invented for...

For a model aerobat --a light Giles 202 is extremely hard to beat - very stable -meaning solid -locked in feel-
I have to lay that on the LE sweep and the effective diherdral.
In full scale -- power loading is almost the only consideration for today's Unlimited stuff - that put the EDGE at the top

I'm flying the GP small Giles, (they call it the Giles 46), and it flies great. I think GP has lengthened the fuselage slightly over the full scale aircraft, which seems to make it groove a whole lot better. It's AMAZING at rolling manoeuvers. It rolls very vast, very axial. I fly mine with extra aileron throw and lots of exponential. Knife edge is straight with only a touch of down elevator mixed into the rudder.

It also slows down well and could almost be considered a "floater" on landing. It does snap if you set your elevator throws too high, but I think that's true of all aircraft of this type.

I've been flying my Giles for 3 seasons now, and it's still my "go-to" aircraft when I want an airplane that does what I tell it to do with no questions asked.

P.S. And I LIKE the fact that you don't see Giles at the field every weekend. That was part of the reason I went for a Giles instead of an Extra originally anyways.

Anyways, talk to you later,

Tom

The One Negative to the old Ohio RC line of kits (Giles or otherwise) is they build heavy. (and the plus is they are built to take a lot of abuse)

If you keep the weight down, and the CG foward you will have a great flying plane that is docile. Move the CG back and she will get snay fast and do increadable 3D. Increase the wingloading and move the CG back you will have a handfull.

Keep it light, start with a forward CG and you will love it. (until your next airplane comes along)

Rob

Yet the Edge didn't even crack the top 10 in the World Aerobatics Championship last year. The whole competition was dominated by Sukhois and Caps. As it has been for the past several years. According to the placement list, noone even flew an Extra in the competition.

The Edge has the highest power loading of any US airframe -unless something new is higher.
I don't care for the EDGE tho--
I like the Giles 202 as a good model setup -
mine has lotsa power - 18 lbs 1500 squares -ZDZ80 --
Most kits/ARFS of the Giles --are much heavier in this size - some -- 5 lbs more -
I whipped up this one , using H9 cowl and canopy from an Extra-

Dick Hanson, a little off topic. The landing gear seem kind of thin. Is it steel wire, or an illusion? I haven't seen steel wire landing gear on a model that size. However, full size two and three place Cessnas use steel tube. Why not?

The landing gear is steel wire -- two pieces-spread at the top and tapering to one piece thru wheel.
This gear is FAR superior to carbon fiber or aluminum, for ability to take up landing loads and recover.
I cover the gear with-- shrink tubing -available in all colors and as large in dia as desired.
Also -I have used vinyl graphics sheet - sipmly wrapped over th wires.
This is the easiest ,least expensive method of making a light gear (lightest) which has maximum strength.
I used 3/16" dia on front wire and 5/32" on rear wire -bound and soldered at the base.
If you make a hard landing - the gear just spreads and recovers.
If you whack an obstruction, the rear wire buckles -requiring that the covering be removed- the wire straightened and you are ready to go again
If you really whack it- it cost four bucks to replace.
I once did a TOC project - which required a built up gear - a Bucker Jungmann.
the lightest setup was wire , covered with balsa for contour . Everbody has been talked into carbon fibre as a great light gear .
It may be light - but is a lousy medium for spring characteristics.
Also -It is NOT as light as the wire gear -in usable sections.

I think the bad rap you are hearing is about the 25% GP Giles ARF... There are a few structural reinforcements not done at the factory that we have done to overcome them... My only gripe is my studio apartment... Where am I supposed to sleep?