American Hawk (oz15414)

About this Plan

American Hawk (Mystery Model). Free flight sport model, for Cox Baby Bee engine. All sheet design.

Quote: "Calling all Tenderfeet! Here's your chance to build a model airplane that will surprise your parents and fly higher than any model the kids in your neigh-borhood have ever seen. And you can build it by yourself in one hour out of four pieces of balsa wood, and fly it dozens of times in an afternoon.

Yes, you are saying, but model air-planes tear up easily. You've seen too many plastic models wrecked on the first flight on Christmas morning. Well, the American Hawk Mystery Model can really take it. Our test model, for ex-ample, has rammed the side of a car and flown into a farmer's cow. The only damage was a dented Volkswagen and a cow scared out of a year's growth!

What's the 'mystery' all about in the model's name? Show it to any grown-up modeler and he'll probably say, That thing will never fly! Then watch him change his mind when you fire up the engine and let your ship go. Are you interested? Come along for the first flight and see what real model flying is all about.

You have just completed your American Hawk and decided to let your two best friends come along for the first flight - and your little brother to carry the batteries and fuel. There is a good-size field near your house where they are going to build a subdivision. It has a few trees and a fence, but never mind. With everyone helping, you tie the wing onto the fuselage with a couple of rubber bands. It is held firmly, but still can be shifted back or forth if need be.

Which way is the wind blowing? Your little brother throws up a handful of grass and you watch it come down. Since the model will drift with the wind just like a stick floating with the current downstream, you walk toward the wind until you are near one edge of the field. Now when the wind drifts your model, it will still be on the field when it comes down.

Your Cox Babe Bee is an old one you bought for a dollar out of a wrecked plastic model, but it starts easily. To keep down the power for the test flights, you have the propeller put on backwards (the front side of the propeller facing the engine). With a half tank of fuel and the battery clip connected, you wind back the spring starter. The engine starts the first flip and you 'rich up' the needle valve until it is running very slowly.

Holding your American Hawk like a spear, you run into the wind and let it go. Slowly it puts its nose up and begins to climb in lazy big circles. Higher and higher it cruises overhead..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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