Model Aviation featured plan this month was for the f-5. The mag stated that this model was SPA legal with retracts? It is a nice looking airplane, but looks to be a hard build. The fuse looks to be planked. Anyone have any experience with this model?

I never built one but I saw Bill Hinnant fly his years ago. I remember it as very fast and smooth.

I don’t think it said SPA, it said vintage and SPA is not vintage. The nostalgia class of the Vintage Radio Control Society pattern allows pattern aircraft with working retracts if they were shown on the plans.

Thank you 8178. I should read the text more thoroughly!

You can fly SPA with retracts, just don't flip the switch.

Some of the SPA judges are getting pretty senior, they might not notice!

Don't take Model Aviation any more so a picture would be appreciated.

Ray

This is out of the archives Ray.

Tom

The date on the cover is July 1975, so this would be SPA legal since it flew before the cut-off date of January 1, 1976. As was said above, just leave the retracts down. I'll have to go out to my hangar and check this issue out - I keep my old issues at the hangar to make more room in the garage for building.

Jeff

Thanks for posting the pictures Tom. Interesting take on the Northrop F5, but I think I prefer Rich Brand's Tiger Panzer version

Ray

Great minds think alike Ray.

Tom

Or perhaps........."fools seldom differ"

Ray

We're all getting "senior" at the same rate...and yes they WOULD notice.

Another SPA "zinger". I keep hoping for a change of heart.

Duane

Ray,

I was specialist armouring and ejectionseats on the NF 5, dutch version with adjustable noseleg!
(And did get some education on the "Thunderstreak")

As I did tell in my thread, the (N)F 5 A/b did have J85-GE-13 engines, but!! Two of them.
When I did see the picture I thought. how is it possible even the people in the USA do not see the difference between a F20 Tigershark and a F5 Freedom fighter.

But there is a solution the F20 is initially the F5 G.

Cees

Well, Mr Brand noticed. I once watched the prototype F 20 flying at the Farnborough Air Show. One of the fastest, tightest demo flights I have ever seen by a jet. He was using reheat and small flap deflections to tighten the high speed turns. A week later that pilot was killed when the F 20 crashed doing the same display in South Korea. Cause of the crash - G loc causing the pilot to loose consciousness. Sometimes you can just push it too far []

Ray

Ray,

Tiger Panzer, sounds "German"! Abrams Sherman sounds better I think.

I did spend some time to explain the difference between the (old) taildragger and the tricycle plane.
K-3066, 15-07-1974 tail strike on our base Gilze Rijen, the Netherlands. Sometimes the angle of the tailcone of a tricycle plane isn't "high" enough.
One of "my" planes!

Cees

Guys,

Bill Hinnant was my father he designed the F5. I went with my dad to many contest growing up and the plane flew perfectly. I think the fuse might have been originally sheeted but he later created a mold and made glass versions. They were all very true and very fast.

Dad was a mechanical/aeronautical engineer who helped design the B-52’s wings and many other projects.

Thanks again for posting his images.

Bill McKnight

Old thread but I built an F5 after it was featured in MA Plans Showcase. Beautiful design. TC