Time Flies (oz10567)

About this Plan

Time Flies. Control line scale model racer. Wingspan 26 in. OK Cub .19 engine shown.

The subject is the 1930's Hawks Miller HM-1 'Time Flies' racer, sponsored by Gruen Watches.

Quote: "Hailed by aeronautical experts as the most streamline airplane of that day, Frank Hawks' beautiful and unusual 'Time Flies' speedster was prevented from demonstrating its potential as a record-smasher by the untimely death of its famous pilot and designer.

An almost legendary figure, Captain Hawks achieved fame in 1930 in his red and white Travel Air Texaco 13. He established a new US transcontinental speed record as well as numerous intercity records between principal capitals of Europe. In 1933, Hawks flew his silver Northrop Gama Sky Chief to even faster speeds shattering numerous national and world records.

While demonstrating a Northrop Gamma 2-E attack plane during 1935 in South America, Capt. Hawks was ordered to return home. He flew back so quickly that virtually every intercity record between Buenos Aires and Los Angeles was shattered! On this long flight Hawks slept only during gas stops while his passenger, Gage Irving, supervised refueling.

It was in 1936 that Hawks designed what was to be his finest racer. After lengthy design studies and wind tunnel tests, Time Flies was completed and given a gleaming coat of white paint. The Gruen Watch Company sponsored the plane, hence the name.

By 1938 the plane was ready to burn up the skies. Estimated top speed was 375 to 400 mph with a 1150 hp P&W Twin Wasp engine. The engine mount could accommodate a 2000 hp supercharged engine which might have achieved speeds around 500 mph! With the Twin Wasp cruising speed was 340 mph, range 1700 miles.

Fuselage was chrome-moly steel tubing covered with plywood; wing was all wood. The plane conformed to US military pursuit safety requirements to insure adequate strength.

Probably the most unusual feature of Time Flies was its cockpit. To achieve the ultimate in streamlining the pilot's seat was retractable; the windshield folded rearward to seal off the cockpit. Side windows provided limited visibility during speed runs. For take-offs and landings the seat was elevated and the windshield was raised in front of the pilot. A retractable periscope was also used.

In 1938 Capt Hawks was one of a group of prominent judges at a scale model airplane contest. The winners were invited to a victory luncheon with them and the author, then 16, sat next to and chatted with the famous figure. A short time later Hawks lost his life while testing a radical new lightplane when the craft struck electric wires.

With the addition of a more conventional cockpit to accommodate a crew of two Time Flies was converted into a military plane after Captain Hawks death. Entered in the 1938 Thompson Trophy Race and despite the fact that its pilot was not experienced in closed course racing, the military version placed fourth with an average of 249.84 mph. Leigh Wade was at the controls.

Having previously reproduced his Texaco 13 (oz2309), Sky Chief and Gamma 2-E in control line form we complete our tribute to Captain Frank M Hawks by duplicating Time Flies. Built to the scale of 3/4 in equals 1 foot, this model can accommodate any diesel or glow-plug engine from .099 to .23 cubic inch displacement. An OK Cub 19 powered the prototype model.

Construction begins with the wing. Cut spar to shape; taper as per front view. Cement plywood joiners to spar halves; cut away a portion of the join-ers and spar to enable the bellcrank to be installed later. Cut lower covering to outline shape; cement spar to it followed by wing ribs.

Bend wire landing gear components, bind joints with fine soft wire, solder well. Slip upper portion of strut through lower covering, sandwich between plywood. When dry plywood firmly cements to lower covering, ribs and spar. Give several cement coatings to landing gear installation. Attach control lead-out wires to bellcrank; bolt bellcrank to plywood mount. Slip wires through rib holes; securely cement bellcrank mount to ribs and lower covering.

Cut control rod slightly oversize, attach forward end to bellcrank. Solder washer end of control rod to prevent it from slipping off bellcrank. Do not bend rear of control rod until later.

Bevel leading and trailing edges of lower covering with sharp knife, sand-paper smooth using a block. Cut wing upper covering to outline about 1/4 in oversize on all sides. Cement upper covering to ribs, spar and bevelled portion of lower covering; use plenty of adhesive. Hold with straight pins until dry..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 31/05/2019: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

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