AMA Plans Service Showcase
Hinnant's F-5
Vintage aircraft are popular subjects to model, and flying vintage RC models in competition is intended to be casual and enjoyable for a veteran competitor or a beginner.
Bill Hinnant’s F-5 was first flown in 1973, which makes it eligible for vintage RC aerobatics (Pattern) competition. A bonus is the fact that the plans show retractable landing gear, which is legal to use.
This distinctive 60-size Pattern airplane looks sleek and clean and is remembered for having performance to match its good looks. The 62-inch wing is built with approximately 1 inch of dihedral under each tip and has barn-door ailerons to maintain horizontal stability at low speeds.
The F-5 was designed to use a .61 two-stroke glow engine, but it would be a good candidate for a modern electric power system. One benefit of electric power would be to eliminate the muffler protruding from the side of the aircraft, which would be in keeping with its sleek styling.
This design was featured in the first issue of Model Aviation (MA), which had a cover date of July 1975. AMA members can access the MA digital archives on the Academy's website to read more about it. The F-5 is AMA Plans Service listing 100C, available for $15 plus shipping and handling.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
