Hoosier Hotshot (oz16182)

About this Plan

Hoosier Hotshot. Free flight power model. Wingspan 44 in, wing area 275 sq in.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 1/8/2025: Added article, thanks to Pilgrim.

Quote: "JULY THREE-VIEW: HOOSIER HOTSHOT About 10 years ago, I took a business trip to Indianapolis and had a spare evening to visit with Bob Larsh. While touring the Larsh workshop, I saw several original models that I had never seen before. Bob introduced me to the Hoosier Hotshot.

At the time, I thought it would be a ship to build for AMA events, but the time passed and no plans were forthcoming. Now, of course, the HH is definitely a contender for Nostalgia events and has been authorized for eligibility by the NFFS committee. Here is Bob's story about the development of the Hoosier Hotshot:

Like many new models, the Hoosier Hotshot was influenced by other designs of the period and from the benefit of our previous experiences. We found ourselves in need of a new 1/2A contest model in 1956 and began formulating the ideas and combinations we wanted to try.

The K&B Allyn Fury Deluxe .049 came on the market, after winning 1/2A speed at the 1956 Nats. We chose to use this impressive motor, which proved to be a welcome change from the usual Cox Thermal Hoppers and Atwood Shrieks.

It was thought that a larger-than-normal size model could be flown with this new powerplant and a wing area of 275 square inches flat span. The model was finished and flown in the late fall, with test flights showing good potential.

The next two years, however, proved to be a major setback - the Hotshot was stolen the following spring after an errant test (light and wasn't recovered until quite some time later, and we then found ourselves in the position of having to look for new employment, which left little time or money for modeling.

Things changed for the better, and although some serious contest flying was accomplished in 1959, the Hotshot was plagued with engine faiures such as broken crankshafts and pistons - all seemingly at crucial times during contests. Even though other modelers using Sky Furys seemed to be doing okay, it was decided to switch to a Holland Hornet. The model flew a little faster with this motor, causing the climb pattern to become a little dicey. Shimming the incidence, however, dialed it back in. This combination worked very well and the model placed high in several meets.

The Hotshot was off to a good start at the 1960 Dallas Nats, maxing the first two officials. Unfortunately, the model had to be fished out of the nearby lake on both flights. The dunkings, coupled with the hot Texas sun, sent the model over the top and into a screaming dive on the third attempt, demolishing it on impact. As the Mk II version had already been started in 1959, no other Mk Is were built.

The Mk II proved to be a good contest machine, garnering its share of hardware which included the Carl Goldberg 1/2A perpetual trophy awarded to the first place winner at the annual Chicago Midwestern Championships.

The Hotshot was continually being refined and Mk III emerged in 1961 with other modelers building and flying th is version with good results. A number of B/C and FA! models were also built and all performed well. Various airfoils, moment arms, downthrust, aspect ratios, top rudder and tip plates were experimented with.

The final configuration resulted in two variations of the Mk III which had different fuselage lengths. The B/C model had a wingspan of 80 inches, the FAI 59-1/2 inches and the 1-/2A 46 inches. These were Mk IIs and IIIs and were flown with a right climb and left glide pattern.

The Midwest Products Company of northern Indiana expressed an interest in kitting the 1/2A and obtained the plans. However, nothing came of it as they evidently were having great success with their Satellite kit sales at the time. We did notice sometime later than they did release an RC kit also named the Hoosier Hotshot."

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