  SPORT • GLOW • ELECTRICS • AEROBATICS • SCALE • TRAINERS • HELIS |
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When asked if I would like to build this aircraft I jumped at the opportunity. This project tripped my trigger because in the ever-expanding world of electric “foamies,” the BAE Hawk is an exceptionally good-looking aircraft in a pusher jet configuration. DIFFERENT would be the one-word reason |
 The Ultrafly Brushless motor and gearbox have a nice snug fit in the tail cone. The prop is invisible in flight, and provides a lot more low speed thrust than a ducted fan. This makes hand launching a practical option for a model jet. |
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TIPS FOR SUCCESS As with all kits, the best advice for success is to take your time and familiarize yourself with the construction sequence prior to the actual build. With that said, I had a minor ‘oops’ when building my Hawk. I did not check the orientation of the horizontal stab prior to beveling the edge of the   The wing has molded channels for the aileron torque rods. The two recessed circles are useful finger pockets when hand launching.
 The only departure I made from the documentation when building was not gluing the motor mount to the fuse. It was an extremely tight fit with no lateral movement and, since it was a pusher configuration, the motor couldn’t pull itself off. Now, if for some reason I have to get into the fuse from the rear, I can remove the motor/gearbox for easy access. CONCLUSION There is no doubt that the BAE Hawk is in my rotation of aircraft that will travel to the field with me often. It is a different look in foamies and it flies great. Its speed to size ratio is high, so I would not recommend the Hawk to a newbie. An experienced flier, however, can kick in the afterburner and shoot for the sound barrier. Links APC Propellers, distributed by Landing Products, www.apcprop.com, (530) 661-0399. Castle Creations, www.castlecreations.com, (785) 883-4519. Thunder Power Batteries, www.thunderpower-batteries.com, (702) 228-8883. Ultrafly, distributed by Great Planes Model Manufacturing, www.greatplanes.com, www.ultraflymodel.com, (800) 682-8948. For more information, please see the source guide in the magazine. |
by David Baron HAND LAUNCHING. Use care here, to keep your hand clear of the pusher prop as you toss the model. We always launch with power off, then add throttle once the model is in the air. We launched into a breeze and aimed for a brisk launch while trying not to gain altitude. The result was acceptable, with a foot or two loss of altitude while the model was accelerating. If it is a calm day when you make your test flight, you might want to wait for a breeze! SPORT FLYING. The Hawk looks awesome as it grooves around the field. Its very realistic jet look and feel has you humming the “Top Gun” music as you roll in on your next target. Fast and low probably gets the most rise out of the spectators! AEROBATICS. The model rolls really well, and loops are fair if you are carrying enough speed. Don’t get too daring if you are low and slow! |
There is no rudder (it could possibly be engineered to include it), so knife-edge, tumbles and spins were not attempted. LANDINGS. The Hawk displayed no bad habits when slowed down. I tried a few practice approaches without touching down to establish how much power would be necessary for a comfortable approach with the nose up in a scale-like configuration. This resulted in a 1/4 throttle approach and chopping the engine just a foot off the ground. There is an interesting phenomenon with pusher configurations: When they touch the ground, the motion usually rotates the prop into the horizontal position. I have rarely seen a prop broken on a pusher like this, unless the operator has left the motor “on.” CONCLUSION. Have a blast! This little foamie is one heck of a great way to simulate jet performance on a budget. If you are nervous about hand launching a pusher, you can always configure a hook under the canopy and use a small bungee to launch this exciting model. |
