Miles or Oly II ?

[dave440c]

Gonna build a 2m class woodie and was wondering.................Miles or Oly II or??????????? :rolleyes:

[schrederman]

Miles seems to be the darling right now. I have considered building one myself, and I don't even like 2-meter...

Jack

[Wylie Shaw]

Why not the OLY IIs w/S3014 from WWW.SKYBENCH.COM you can modify this for flaps if you wanted or leave stock with ailerons.... note that Ray has two OLY's on his web site.... the Standard airtronic and his design the OLY IIs two different birds. As far as the Miles is concerned you can't go wrong with that kit nice airplane.... In fact just get both...... solve your problem.... both kits are hi quality...



Wylie Shaw



p.s. also the olys are 100 inchers

[PizzaHunter]

My choice would be Miles.

[TheNightowl]

Um... just an observation.. The Oly II is NOT a 2M.

Read good things about the Miles, but read better things about the Oly II or IIs. I'd got with the Oly. But it IS a 100-inch w/s ship.
Nightowl

Oops.. didn't see that Wylie already mentioned that.

[quigley257]

Don't get me wrong, the Miles is a nice ship, but I just can't stomach ~$200 for a box of wood that has to be built into a two meter RES ship. I second what Wylie says about the Skybench kits. If you are interested in a two meter, check out the Lil Bird on the Skybench site http://www.skybench.com/index.html?http://www.skybench.com/home.html very good quality kit and a true classic look.

--quigley :D

[kzimmerm]

I've owned an Oly II many years ago. I will say it flies well. I'm sure with the S3014 airfoil it will outperform the original flat bottom version. It is a simple build, has a classic look and in my opinion is a real good performer.

However, I would personally choose the Miles. In fact I have one NIB waiting for the right time to dive into it. My view is that I want more out of a ship than what the OLY II can offer. From the reviews I've seen the Miles is worth every penny of the $180 it is selling for. It has an updated look, and from the reviews the performance is top notch.

Kurt

[atmosteve]

Don't get me wrong, the Miles is a nice ship, but I just can't stomach ~$200 for a box of wood that has to be built into a two meter RES ship. --quigley :D

Really? welcome to aeromodelling.... we usually only get back what we put in... But hey, I'm an RC dinosoar at the ripe old age of 40, go figure..

[kzimmerm]

Really? welcome to aeromodelling.... we usually only get back what we put in... But hey, I'm an RC dinosoar at the ripe old age of 40, go figure..


and I've been flying RC gliders for 40+ years.... lol

Kurt

[atmosteve]

Kurt, you figured....

[dave440c]

Lookin like its gonna be the Miles so far.......... I'm flyin sailplanes for at least 35 years so I value the opinions on newer designs. Thanks to all who have answered. Keep it up! :D

[Oldcoot2]

Ho, ho, you two "Dinosaurs" crack me up.

Quigley
The $185 (shipped) that I spent on the Oly III was the best investment I have made, hobby wise. But, it takes a builder to appreciate the finer arts of putting one together. Don't tell me you're one of "Them ARF Guys"... :eek:

Kurt
I had looked at the Miles, but like Jack I'm not that interested in 2M. Since I came from the Dark Side I want them big @ssed Wangs up there!

Dave
It's your money and you are the deciding factor. The flat bottom foil on the Miles leaves me out. It may look up to date, etc, but the 2M Lil Bird from Ray would be my choice. Its predecessor and big sisters speak loudly of their capabilities.
Just an old man's ideas....and I have those young squirts (S & K)beat by 20 + years. :p

Gerald

[kzimmerm]

Ho, ho, you two "Dinosaurs" crack me up.

Quigley
The $185 (shipped) that I spent on the Oly III was the best investment I have made, hobby wise. But, it takes a builder to appreciate the finer arts of putting one together. Don't tell me you're one of "Them ARF Guys"... :eek:

Kurt
I had looked at the Miles, but like Jack I'm not that interested in 2M. Since I came from the Dark Side I want them big @ssed Wangs up there!

Dave
It's your money and you are the deciding factor. The flat bottom foil on the Miles leaves me out. It may look up to date, etc, but the 2M Lil Bird from Ray would be my choice. Its predecessor and big sisters speak loudly of their capabilities.
Just an old man's ideas....and I have those young squirts (S & K)beat by 20 + years. :p

Gerald

OC2 - aka Gerald;
You have a valid point there with big @ssed Wangs... knowing how my eyesight has diminished over the past 10 years I can only imagine what it is going to be like in another 20...

Setting all of that aside, you are also correct about the Miles having a flat-bottom airfoil, however, it HAS been engineered to be much more efficient than the older OlyII airfoil...


I was about to post in my previous message that I can't wait to see what Fineworx comes up with next. I'll bet that if they come up with a 3m design resembling something like the Miles it will be a killer! Who knows.

Back to work.

Kurt

[s2000]

The Miles will blow away a stock Oly 2 in performance, almost 35 years between the 2 designs, Phillip Kolb is a heck of a sailplane desgner.

[dave440c]

Dinosaur? just cause I've built a few woodies over the years ;) I do appreciate the new technologies of today and yes I own and fly a few ARFs. I'm thinking that the flat bottomed foil on the Miles may not be much of a drawback........had some of my best thermal flights ever with an old Aquila and I think that was flat. A valid observation however is the size; as these 65 year old eyes really appreciate my 134" span moldie when it's spec high and far out. I've also got an Omega II and find it quite hard to see at times even when it's in close. Maybe its time for new glasses.............. LOL :p

[will_newton]

Hey don't forget the Chrysalis! www.djaerotech.com (http://www.djaerotech.com) It's got a heck of a following with billion post threads, group builds, e-conversions, etc.There is an active thread in the e-sailplanes forum now.

[dave440c]

Thanks for the suggestion Will. The Chrysalis is a nice ship but I'm partial to X tails. Just can't seem to warm up to V's no matter how hard I try. :(

[John Walter]

The Chrysalis can be built as an X or V.

[dave440c]

OK Did not know that (Obviously). So it may be in contention after I read some of the threads. Thanks JA :D

[VHO]

ALLEGRO LITE - really kicks A...

Buy the rib set from Mountain Models http://www.mountainmodels.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_30&products_id=188&osCsid=b081fbd420abee897f52847042771c22

and a SKY Fuselage from ArtHobby http://www.arthobby.com/shop.html

The plans are at http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/allegrolite2m/markdrela_allegrolite2m.htm

They fly just great and are 2m. Support is available on Yahoo Groups (see Charles River Site for how to go there).

An enjoyable build, a bit different to your average woody, and they fly just great.

Hutton

[glidermang]

There is available from Flying Models magazine, a plan set for a 2-meter glider called the "Free Spirit". I built several, and it is a pretty wonderful airplane. Once the ribs are cut, it pretty much builds itself - this in an airplane that features a cambered wing profile, no less. It is quite capable of being built to 20 ounces. It is also as strong as the proverbial brick out house.

Each rib starts as an identical profile. The root ribs are 1/16 ply, the rest are balsa. For the outer panels, which taper, you truncate the ribs front and rear, then sand them down to the proper thickness all in a stack. Pretty slick. The result is built-in twist.

The underside from the front to the spar is flat, so you build it on a flat board and let the back end hang over the side.

I learned to build it with zero decalage, and add an inch to the nose as equipment became lighter over the years.

Actually, the new Miles reminds me very much of the Free Spirit.

Yours, Greg

[cynjon]

Quigley
The $185 (shipped) that I spent on the Oly III was the best investment I have made, hobby wise. But, it takes a builder to appreciate the finer arts of putting one together. Don't tell me you're one of "Them ARF Guys"... :eek:



Quigley is FAR from an "ARF Guy"...he's an outstanding builder and has been building for 25 or so years. While I LOVE the look (and performance, from what I hear) and would truly enjoy the build, it's the high price tag of the Miles that keeps me from getting one. For the money, I'd pick up an Oly III like you...

[soholingo]

Quigley is FAR from an "ARF Guy"...he's an outstanding builder and has been building for 25 or so years. While I LOVE the look (and performance, from what I hear) and would truly enjoy the build, it's the high price tag of the Miles that keeps me from getting one. For the money, I'd pick up an Oly III like you...

Yep for that sort of loot I would want a 3 meter. Just like you guys.

j

[cfw]

Towards the end of the winter I started looking for a 2m as well. I looked at all of the planes that have been mentioned.

I ended up with a Miles, and an Allegro Lite kit that I found here on the forum.
Now the question is which to build first.

I'm leaning towards the Miles.

[ezmo]

Have Miles 2m, its new design, sold already a lot. I have one, thinking of buying another one. It flies like small Pike Perfect, Miles is very agile like DLG.... Wind condition wise, it can be flown in various conditions easily, and it penetrates extremely well, which is one of my favourite charasteristics on any gliders. It seems to be windier year by year here, so no floaters to me atleast.

You can dive down with Miles like good F3J plane without losing parts.


E

[dave440c]

Since I want to use this new ship as an oversized HLG now and then (Can't throw DLG anymore due to physical issues, had to sell my Hyper II) I guess I'm still leaning towards the Miles or similar sized / type ships. Was even thinking of building in a small finger hole like we used to have on our HLGs like my old Chuperosa (which was a contest winner back in the day). I'm really learning a lot from all the responses so far. Everyone's comments have been useful so please keep 'em coming :)

[ermit]

Hi Dave, and all :).

Here is a link to a German distributor. I know, they don't have the models you mention but some very nice 2 meter kits.

http://www.hoelleinshop.com/


By now i'm building an Oly II S and i can only say good things about it. From the first time i open the box untill now is been a very nice experience at the point that i'm thinking in buy the 3 meter kit.


Aaron.

[TheNightowl]

Well, now, if this has just expanded to ANY 2M, I'd like to cast a vote for what will probably be the next 2M kit that I'll buy (though it'll be awhile), and that's the Grand Illusion, from MM Glider Tech. But, yeah, it's a floater. I just like the lines of it.

Nightowl

[soholingo]

have you looked at the Chrysallis 2m by djaerotech?

http://djaerotech.com/dj_product/chrysalis2m.html

Easy build, price is right, and if you like the Miles look reshape the tail to look like the Miles. You could get the Chrysallis in the air for the price of just the Miles kit.

[cfw]

I have a Chuperosa I could let go of...still in the box.


Last Saturday I maidened a MM GliderTech Illusion (little bro to the Grand Illusion, duh) and was VERY happy with it's performance. It's got a long chord, but with some ballast was handling slight winds fairly well. The grand Illusion and Marauder (not a 2M) quickly jumped up on my list of 'to get' kits. They are easy builds, and decently priced.

[JimHSoars]

[snips] I'd like to cast a vote for what will probably be the next 2M kit that I'll buy, and that's the Grand Illusion, from MM Glider Tech.
I just eMailed Merrill, chief designer, kit maker, bottle washer... at MM Glider Tech. He'll be doing a run of Grand Illusion kits in May.

JimHSoars

[Robglover]

I have an old Airtronics Oly II and a Miles.

Both are great planes.

The Airtronics kit was a very nice kit, and I enjoyed building it. I haven't built one of Skybench's kits, but Ray generally does a pretty good job.

The Miles kit is also very nice, and I enjoyed building it as well. The Miles is a more complex build, but if you are experienced that won't be a big deal. The parts are all laser cut and fit together perfectly. Yes it's more expensive than my old Oly, but so is everything else. I found it to be a reasonable price.

The Oly is a 100 inch plane and bigger is always better, but the Miles is more advanced and flys just fine. The Miles will launch harder than my old Oly, but the new version has a bigger spar so maybe it could keep up. The Miles does better in a wind or traveling between thermals, the Oly is slow and floaty.

Some of us enjoy 2 meter planes. They can be challenging, but that's part of what makes them interesting to me.

I would hate to lose either one of them. But If I did I'd enjoy building a replacement.

[dave440c]

Rob: If you had to choose one or the other, which would it be for best all around flying fun? Bet I can guess, but I'll let you answer first, :D. There have been a lot of very good suggestions and comments so far but no one has offered a convincing argument against the Miles other than price (which for me is not that big an issue). I've built plenty of woodies over the years so if its a little more "complex" as you put it, that does not chase me away either.

[atjurhs]

I checked into the Chrysallis 2M several months back and chose a Miles instead.

I think the Chrysallis 2M is probably a fine 2M but it wouldn't suit my style of flying. I think the Chrysallis will fly a lot like an old style OLY but in a 2M size. Without a D-tube it won't take as hard of launches and I don't think it will penetrate the wind or cross the field (to another thermals) as well as the Miles. Just my two cents, Chrysallis lovers, flame on :D

I'll choose the Miles every time.

[kzimmerm]

I have an old Airtronics Oly II and a Miles.

Both are great planes.

The Airtronics kit was a very nice kit, and I enjoyed building it. I haven't built one of Skybench's kits, but Ray generally does a pretty good job.

The Miles kit is also very nice, and I enjoyed building it as well. The Miles is a more complex build, but if you are experienced that won't be a big deal. The parts are all laser cut and fit together perfectly. Yes it's more expensive than my old Oly, but so is everything else. I found it to be a reasonable price.

The Oly is a 100 inch plane and bigger is always better, but the Miles is more advanced and flys just fine. The Miles will launch harder than my old Oly, but the new version has a bigger spar so maybe it could keep up. The Miles does better in a wind or traveling between thermals, the Oly is slow and floaty.

Some of us enjoy 2 meter planes. They can be challenging, but that's part of what makes them interesting to me.

I would hate to lose either one of them. But If I did I'd enjoy building a replacement.


BTW Rob;
I enjoyed your build thread. Thanks for your contributions!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853850

Kurt

[Robglover]

Rob: If you had to choose one or the other, which would it be for best all around flying fun? Bet I can guess, but I'll let you answer first, :D. There have been a lot of very good suggestions and comments so far but no one has offered a convincing argument against the Miles other than price (which for me is not that big an issue). I've built plenty of woodies over the years so if its a little more "complex" as you put it, that does not chase me away either.
Dave -

I'm glad I don't have to choose. I like both planes a lot. They have different personalities, and both of them are a joy to fly.

I'll fly the OlyII on calm days with big fat lazy thermals when I feel like laying on my back watching the plane fly itself. No winch necessary, just lay out a high start and launch the thing. Hard to beat the enjoyment I get out of watching an Oly fly while the transmitter is laying on the ground close by. It's easier to eat a sandwich and enjoy a refreshing beverage while flying an Oly than it is with a Miles. I've had and have several "classics", the Oly is as classic as they come. There's very good reason that it's gained such a following over the decades.

The Miles will handle more wind and hopefully be competetive, while still being a good plane for small fields and a high start. I'm finding that I love the way it handles. It's crisper than the Oly, but still quite predictable and gentle. I haven't tried putting it into autopilot mode yet, but I have done some nice semi-axial rolls that the Oly balks at. It's light enough to be floaty, but clean enough to scoot around. All good. Given a few decades of production it may well stand with the Oly as a classic in the future.

There's only one right answer here - build one of each!

[Robglover]

BTW Rob;
I enjoyed your build thread. Thanks for your contributions!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853850

Kurt
Thanks for the encouragement Kurt, it's great motivation.

[ezmo]

Heh, due this thread I dediced to buy another Miles ;), just in case something happens to my precious one....

Only change to first one, I will build one piece wing.

[No.5 is alive]

I checked into the Chrysallis 2M several months back and chose a Miles instead.

I think the Chrysallis 2M is probably a fine 2M but it wouldn't suit my style of flying. I think the Chrysallis will fly a lot like an old style OLY but in a 2M size. Without a D-tube it won't take as hard of launches and I don't think it will penetrate the wind or cross the field (to another thermals) as well as the Miles. Just my two cents, Chrysallis lovers, flame on :D

I'll choose the Miles every time.

Are you sure?

At a recent windy 2m contest the Miles being flown by an expert took a beating from a Chrysallis. That box spar is pretty tough and the mods to version 2 make it less prone to flutter.

The Chrysallis is definitely not like an OlyII to fly and has the abilty to range long and wide for a 2m model with a great L/D, very similar in overall concept to the Miles except a little bit older.

Cheers
No. 5

[atjurhs]

Are you sure?

At a recent windy 2m contest the Miles being flown by an expert took a beating from a Chrysallis. That box spar is pretty tough and the mods to version 2 make it less prone to flutter....

Cheers
No. 5

Glad to hear there is a version 2 of the Chrysallis.

[dave440c]

Rob: Thanks for your carefully thought out answers.
No.5 is alive: C'mon now, we all know that Pilot=80%, Plane =20% :rolleyes:
ezmo: Nice lookin' ship!
I'm getting dangerously close to giving Barry a call.............The Miles keeps beckoning. Maybe I will have to build both after all, but the Miles will be first :D
Dave

[JimHSoars]

Dave:

The Chrysalis (http://www.djaerotech.com/dj_product/chrysalis2m.html) is only $85 and about $12 shipping. DJ Aerotech recommends thinner servos than the Hitec HS-55 for the spoilers. I ordered 2 of the GWS PICO Std Feather Servos for $14 each from them with my Chrysalis order.

It's a cool glider. Try it you'll like it. :D

The fact that I haven't built mine yet shouldn't deter you. :o :eek: :censored:

Jim

[ronrange]

Im not familiar with the Miles, but I can guarantee from experience the AIRTRONICS Oly II is a great 'all around ' sailplane. Good for beginners, easy to build, durable and with experience can get you a trophy.

[Robglover]

The Miles keeps beckoning. Maybe I will have to build both after all, but the Miles will be first :D
Dave
Dave -
Sounds like a good plan to me. If you enjoy building and flying the Miles is a winner all the way around.

[dave440c]

Thanks Rob and all who responded. I will start a build log on the Miles when I get going :D

[Ray Hayes]

I'll put my 2M Lil Bird up against any 2m. :)

Sailplanes are mostly all about the wing and wing loading and for some, price.

The 2M Lil Bird has 636 sq in wing area, about 100 more than ... and can weigh as little as 21 oz for an extremly low wing loading. For all out competion, I build mine with a narrowed fuse, easy to accomplish, bolt on wing and good size ballast box. The airfoil ( proven highly successful in all my Bird Series designs ) is not flat bottom and has a very wide speed range at any wing loading. Those that have seen it launch and dive straight down from spec out have been very impressed by it's speed and strength. Plus, it handles like a hand launch, very easy to fly and thermals out on a whisper.

$113.00 for this high quality kit is a true bargain.

Ray
Sky Bench
http://www.skybench.com

[dave440c]

Hi Ray: Thanks for your comments. I simply cannot get past the wing planform / shape on all the Bird series ships. :( Just not my style. We will be doing business later this year when building time comes around again. I still want an Oly II as I loved most all the Airtronics designs. When are you going to kit the Aquila? it would be my first choice especially with a few wing mods for strength. :D
Dave

[JimHSoars]

I simply cannot get past the wing planform / shape on all the Bird series ships. :( Just not my style.
Dave
Dave:

Form follows function in good engineering. The Bird series wings need no washout due to the design. I'l bet they don't tip stall because of that weird look as well.

Jim

[dave440c]

I agree Jim, but your statement "weird look" kinda says it for me. I'm not faulting the engineering, as I said just can't deal with the "look". You gotta be happy with what you're building or what's the point :confused: I'm sure that little bird does all that Ray says it does and then some.
Dave