Mako Monster (oz9790)

About this Plan

Mako Monster. Radio control amphibious flying boat, for .60 power.

Quote: "The MAKO is an experimental ship, a sixth generation Flying Boat with a Privateer (oz311) / Scavenger (oz5585) / Navigator (oz19) / Piranha (oz268) background. Of these, it most resembles the Piranha which appeared in the December issue. This .45 powered seaplane performed excellently in the air, but could stand further improvement in water affairs. Notably, it had a minimum amount of bow displacement, which makes it work too hard to reach planing speeds.

More displacment has been added to the forward bow on this MAKO design. Secondly, the wing floats have been increased in displacement slightly and mounted a few inches further outboard on the wings to better stabilize the aircraft in severe cross-wind conditions. Use of a wider bow, plus a forward chine spray rail has been employed to fling bow splash water (as when striking a wave) further from the prop arc. Drops of water hitting a seaplane's propeller is a major factor in retarding take-offs. The tips of the prop at high r.p.m. approach the speed of sound, and drops of water can actually demolish the blades of a softer type wooden prop. The nylon props are better suited for the task and we have not had any difficulty with them.

The intricate forward chine lines of the hull on this new design require a little more building effort, but it will greatly retard this spray problem and allow faster accel-eration on every take-off run. This is most important, as it creates stabilizing wing lift, which lessens water drag as the hull rises higher in the water. Once speed starts to build, the take-off is assured.

A more concave 'V' bottom to the forward bow has also been employed on this design, with the intention of riding the forward portion of the hull on en-trapped air, as on many of the newer. speedboat hulls. Aft of the step, another innovation which we hope will be of some merit. The large air scoop just behind the prop arc, above the cabin and below the wing is intended to duct quantities of prop wash down through the rull, exiting into the void behind the 'step'. In theory, it should help eliminate any vacuum which might otherwise develop, a constant source of trouble with seaplanes. It should vent the step, and provide a layer of air for the hull to slide on, bordering on a 'hovercraft' principle..."

Mako Monster, Flying Models, July 1967.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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