Anyone know the Skyhook?

[Robert McHam]

This is new to me as I had never heard of it before.
It's the Fox Skyhook kitted by (for?) Fox for their then, new Fox 07 engine. Any pictures or experiences are welcome.
This is from a new product announcement from sept 61 not sure which publication. I have never seen another mention of it anywhere that I can recall.

Robert

[John Castle]

What do you suppose the "Skyhook tab" is for? 

[Robert McHam]

What do you suppose the "Skyhook tab" is for?  

That my friend is a great question! Aid for balloon bust competition?
Perhaps there is more to this?

Robert

[LARRY RICE]

As I understand it the "Sky Hook" was a second rudder that was suppose to keep the lines tight. Duke had purchased Berkley and wanted to keep it making kits but soon found that he could not run both companies and sold Berkley to Sig Mfg. If you look real hard you might find several Berkley kits with a FOX label.
Larry

[Robert McHam]

Larry, thanks for that!
Yes that sounds plausible and that thought actually crossed my mind for a very brief moment but I didn't sell myself on it.
Which led me to do some thinking along those same lines. I think more on that later and in another thread where it belongs.

That info about some Berkeley kits having the Fox label is intriguing! I never knew that Fox once owned Berkeley.

Robert

[George]

I did not know that Fox sold their kit line to SIG, I thought they just stoped making them.

Berkeley kits were known to have excellent plans and terrible parts that were often die-krunched and poorly machined. I remember replacing parts, not because they were too heavy, but they simply did not fit. This reputation may have carried over to Fox and was too much to overcome.

Yes the tab was to be a "sky-hook" and hold it out on longer lines. Surprised noone mentioned the skid instead of wheels.

George

[Robert McHam]

Thank you George.

Yes that LG should be mentioned and I for one salute the designer for that Speaking of which I wonder who played the biggest part of this design?
Back to the LG. While not entirely unique in the modeling world, it is pretty early to my knowledge. I don't know if I ever saw the 'whisker' type LG on a CL plane but I do remember seeing them in pictures of some of the pylon type competition FF planes. Not sure of the specific time period for those. This could predate the FF guys!

I applaud the concept as it holds down weight and cost plus allows one to start the engine on the ground and help prevent prop breakage when landing.

I should try this myself!

R O Gs are infrequent with 1/2A planes unless you bring a sheet of cardboard to the flying field or are fortunate enough to have a hard surface to fly off of.

I remember riding my bicycle to many a parking lot and trying to find its most open area where there were no light poles close enough to obstruct flying or those annoying concrete tire bumpers.

Robert

[john e. holliday]

That skid will even work on pavement.   DOC Holliday

[George]

...Speaking of which I wonder who played the biggest part of this design?

Robert 

The advertisement says Duke designed it. Perhaps he wanted to make sure something was out there to handle his Fox .07.

I still have my .07, but never had a Skyhook.

George

[Robert McHam]

A newer related topic can be found here: http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=15626.0

I hope this will be helpful! Robert

[Mike Dennett]

OLD topic but just found it in a search.. I just acquired a Skyhook kit in a small lot of goodies. If anyone is still interested I do plan to scan and document the kit. The Skyhook is a die cut ply tab slotted and mounted over the LE towards the tip of the outboard wing, at an 8 degree incidence angle to provide outwards lift force for line tension.

p.s. and no plans come with the kit. It says to build it like it looks in the picture..

[944_Jim]

I'd love to see details. I wonder how it would fly on a Norvel .061, or .074.

Please document and share the patterns.

Thanks,

Jim in MS