RE: mechanism for making a retractable tailhook on Hellcat?
OK, gang, just took the plane down the street in the convertible. Max speed 35mph, the hook does wobble a little in the wind, probably not perceptible in the air from the ground observer. It does come a little from the perpendicular as much as 20 degrees, but at least in this test, it still looked believable.
Will try the "acid test", flying it tomorrow or Tuesday. If possible I'll take some pics of it from the ground to evaluate how it looks in the air.
davegee