Mach 8 (oz5933)

About this Plan

Mach VIII. RC sport pattern model for .40 power. Uses a foam wing.

Quote: "At first glance the Mach 8 looks like any other pattern ship, but when you get closer, the size of the airplane has quite an impact. Unlike many other small airplanes, the Mach 8 is a very fast, groovy kind of ship. Several have been built and flown, and all of the pilots agree that it flies as good as, or better, than its big brothers. There are several theories about why the Mach 8 flies as well as it does, and this seems to be the one most unanimously agreed upon: Because of its light weight (4 lbs, 4 oz) and high power (.40) we end up with a very good power/weight ratio. This, coupled with a light wing loading, gives the airplane the ability to fly through all of the maneuvers at a fairly constant speed with no zooming or ballooning. This constant momentum makes the ship less susceptible to gusts and cross-winds, and also tends to make the maneuvers look smoother and more graceful.

During the Mach 8's first season of competition, it fared exceedingly well. At the Windy Pity's Cash Bash the ship bagged a second place, being only 13 points out of first place. Then, at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Dayton, the Mach 8 scored a landslide 1st place victory in Class B. Later, it garnered its third win in a row, a 1st place at Peoria, Illinois. Because of those three wins, the Mach 8 moved up to Class C Novice where it totaled up three first, two seconds, and a third combined in Class B and C Novice Competition.

Unlike many aircraft published in magazines, the Mach 8 is not a one of a kind model. At last count there were twenty-three versions either under construction or being flown in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. The latest version of the Mach 8 incorporates a fiberglass fuselage. By eliminating the bulk of the balsa in the fuselage, it is possible to install retracts and still have somewhere to put a fuel tank! Needless to say, the installation of retracts and a Super Tigre .46 have enhanced the performance of the aircraft considerably.

For those modelers interested in the fiberglass version, the kit is being offered elsewhere in this issue. So if you're looking for an economical way to go, but still want to stay competitive, what are you waiting for? The Mach 8 fills the bill, so let the balsa chips fly..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to theshadow.

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