Back in 1955 when I was 15 years old, I built a 53" Berkeley Grumman Guardian. I attempted to fly it several times, but my brother eventually broke it. I lost contact with that plane but it holds close memories for me. I still have a photo with me holding it. I recently bought a set of plans for it and I'm thinking of starting on it again, but I was wondering if anyone has had experience flying it. It was big, and it did not have flaps, so I expect it could end up over weight and not very good in stunt. So before I get started on the plane, maybe there is someone that can give me some insight on it's proven performance.

If it's really bad, maybe I won't build it after all. I'll just look at the picture and reminisce of the good old days (smiling). 

Tom Weedon

Actually *that* Guardian was billed as a stunt plane with no provisions that I know of for carrier, it was a large nonflapped stunt design. 

A couple years ago, or so, there was quite a bit of discussion on one of the boards about it.  Consensus was to build it light and power it well. 

It compares, somewhat to Walt Musciano's "Stunting Vickers Wellesly".  Another plane from about the same era with a fairly high aspect ration wing and no flaps.  Both planes are very similar in size, etc., and could do decent.  Especially if you like to trim for "elevator" turn!

There was a Berkley Guardian Stunter. As I remember it had short moments, a thin symetrical airfoil, and wing span about 50" (I think).  Probably not the best, but I have never seen one fly.

About 20 years ago. many of the Garden State Circle Burners, made profile versions of the airplane and used throttles. They flew formation flights for both fun and demonstrations. The airplanes were painted in navy colors, and not all the very dark Corsair blue.

They had a ball with these airplanes. The late Augie Buffalano of the GSCB, gave me some cut up rough drawings of the modified airplane.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures.

Bill Werwage also designed a full stunter to look like the Guardian, but I don't think he ever competed with the airplane.

I built this Guardian about 15 years ago from plans I got from Tom Dixon. It still flies great with a Veco 29.
Willis

Tom
I changed the construction on my guardian instead of strip planking I used molded 1/16 inch balsa which produced a very light airplane I’ll have to weigh it for the exact weight. You are right the original guardian weighed a ton like all Berkley kits.
Willis

As a sidelight, Bill Werwage did a Guardian that looked interesting. Saw it in the Bob Hunt video about Bill's various planes. Very cool.

One of the guys I flew with over in Cougarville (aka Pullman, WA) had a Berkley Grumman Guardian. It was pretty neat, to a 14 y.o. kid. None of us flew real well, no adults around that flew, but it did amazing takeoffs and landings. I remember it doing loops and wingovers. I think squares would be a challenge, but it would be a great sport model and demonstration model. Molded shells would be the way to do it. I had a kit, but sold it for a huge profit. A rare occurance for me.  Steve

Edit: Added the picture from Pullman. This was New Years Eve, and it was ZERO Deg. F. when we got home, all on foot. Nobody had a car, tho a couple of the guys had licenses. The guy with the Guardian was a Sophmore, so may have been 16. It had a McCoy Super Stunt .36 (not a great engine). A Brodak .40 would be good, or an RM .40.