Giles G-200 & G202 – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Giles 200 series aircraft was a popular Acrobatic aircraft developed in the early 90’s in Scappoose Oregon by AkroTech Aviation Inc. Like the Ultimate Biplane its likely more famous as an RC aircraft than the original. Only 12 single seat G-200’s & 26 tandem seat G-202’s where produced so seeing one at a show may be a rare sight.

I remember seeing all kinds of scales of Giles G-202’s quite often at the Jefco Aeromod lers RC filed in at Chat field resistor south of Denver.

Compared to its contemporaries like the Extra 300 or the Cap 232, the Giles series featured a swept back leading edge and a straight trailing edge. A plan form that is quite common on RC pattern Aircraft.

For EAA Members there are quite a few sport aviation articles you can look up in the archives online

Here is the EAA listing for the aircraft: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/d—g/giles-g-200-and-g-202

Here are some YouTube videos of the Giles in action:

And a bunch of RC Giles videos;

Surprisingly I was not able to find any plans on outerzone for it but there are some kits available online:

https://www.aircraftinternational.com/Products/Aircraft/43GilesG202.aspx

(#206) Giles G-202 (87”) Plan Set

https://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38054&page=3

Solar Stratos – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Solar Stratos is record breaking test aircraft that uses solar power aimed to reach up to 82,000′ with a Propeller. This is U2 / SR-71 Altitude territory. The first flight was in 2017 and the is from Switzerland.

Yanko Design has a detailed article on the aircraft: https://www.yankodesign.com/2018/07/07/stratospheric-flight-without-a-drop-of-fuel/

The website for the aircraft is: https://www.solarstratos.com/en/

This aircraft could lead to new developments and a “tech refresh” in Solar powered UAV’s that could serve as an alternate to satellites.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarstratos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolarStratos

I could find no RC, Books or Merch for the aircraft however the rctestflight channel has a 16 video series on solar powered RC aircraft.

Cessna Skymaster – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

In keeping with the aircraft of the month being of unique aircraft that are not totally common this entry is from one of the most common GA manufactures out there Cessna. The Skymaster series is a unique puller / pusher configuration I’m sure got some inspiration from Dornier and later gave inspiration to the Adam 309.

Production ran from 1963 – 1982 with almost 3,000 built. It benefited with some parts commonality across other Cessna products helping its production duration and quantity. It even served in Vietnam as a forward air control aircraft.

With the aircraft coming from such a large GA manufacture and with such a long production run there is a good amount of items on Amazon for the Skymaster.

ICM 48290 – Plastic Military Plane Cessna O-2A Skymaster, Airplane Model American Reconnaissance Aircraft – Scale 1:48

Cessna O-2A Skymaster Window Bumper Sticker Decal 5″

Cessna 336-337 SKYMASTER Parking Only 8″x12″ Sign Plate

Cessna Skymaster: 336 – 337 – 02 Paperback

O-2A Skymaster Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Outerzone has a few RC plans:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8180

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=5354

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4566

Lewis Ascender – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Lewis Ascender can trace its roots back to the Piper PA-18 Super Cub. & The Wild Double Ender. This aircraft features helicopter like visibility with out the aircraft or operational cost of a helicopter. There is interest in offering the aircraft as a kit but its currently a one off.

Several articles on the aircraft and the people behind it:

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/ascender-aircraft-26682

http://www.bushplanedesign.com/news–updates.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Ascender

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_DoubleEnder

I can find no models, RC models or any related merch at this time.

Dornier Seastar – Aircraft of the month

/ Spencer Gould

The Seastar comes from a very long linage of flying boat from Germany dating back to 1914.

The aircraft first flew in 1984 and has seating for 12. The controlling int rest in the design has gone through several hands and is currently held by Dornier Seawings.

The tractor / pusher arrangement is a staple of Dornier designs, this one uses PT6 turbo props.

They have a youtube channel for the aircraft at https://www.youtube.com/@dornierseawings4292

2006 Vintage FPV nitro motor glider

/ Spencer Gould

Found some old CD’s from 2006 with FPV footage where I was testing out the Black Widow AV FPV system. This was a good 8 years before FPV became mainstream.

Video playback and recording was on a RCA Lyra from Sharper Image.

This was a small fortune in gear that in less than a decade would be more capable at a fraction of the cost. Interesting to see how far the technology has come. Aircraft is a custom build I call the Florida Condor, 8′ span, .40 Magnum glow motor, Futaba 8UAPS on 72 mhz

Cap 232 – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Cap 232 was made common to the American air show circuit by acrobatic pilot Mike Goulian.

This aircraft is also very popular with the RC acrobatic aircraft and is featured as one of the aircraft in Real Flight RC flight Sim.

The aircraft was developed from the Cap 21 (all made in France) and is also used by the French Air Force.

Like the Ultimate 300 there is likely way more RC aircraft of the Cap 232 then the real deal, bunch of videos on YT

The Great Planes Cap 232 (now a defunct company) plans are up on Outerzone if you want to build one

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=10827