1960-62 Fox Series III Combat Special

[Michael_Strand]

Does anyone have any knowledge about this engine.  I have seen the article about the history, but is it worth anything, or just a paper weight?

[john e. holliday]

Back in period of time I didn't know Fox had series numbers on his engines.   Bought my first  combat special with that big ssquare intake.   Put it on a plank and out to the back yard.  fired it up.   Shut it down immediately as it was loud.   Fox Combat Specials were the engine of choice behind the Johnsons.  My experience was they did not like to restart hot, so I used big tanks.

[riley wooten]

In my opinion Fox did not make a combat engine worth using until the 36X and it needed some timing changes....
RW

[Phil Bare]

Does anyone have any knowledge about this engine.  I have seen the article about the history, but is it worth anything, or just a paper weight?

Hi, Michael, I never was a contest flyer nor even a very good combat flyer but I can tell you that a Flight Streak with a Fox Combat Special Series 3  on crankcase pressure was a real ball of fun for roaring around the sky and terrorising the locals.  IMHO, back in the day, that engine was about as potent as it got for the dollar spent. I have a near mint example now in my engine collection ( accumulation)  At the swap meets and ETC, they are not a real big dollar item and a nice one can be had for around $45.00 - $50.00 atleast here in my corner of the world.

Regards, Phil Bare

P.S. That engine would turn 17 - 18 thousand RPMs on Missle Mist out of the box as I recall, how ever, the bolt on front shaft housing seemed to be the only real weakness of the design when used by the serious combat flying pros of the day.

[Howard Rush]

That and not pulling an airplane very fast.

[Phil Bare]

I dunno, Howard, at the time, a Flight Streak with  a Fox Combat Special Series 3 on it running on cc pressure and Missel Mist sure did seem fast to me, but then, I never was in any contests and my 'combat' experience was limited to me and my flying buds playing around.
What engines were any faster at that time? I have both a Johnson CS as well as a Torpedo GH Combat and running on the bench, they don't seem to have anything on the Fox..

[Howard Rush]

The Johnson was the engine of choice at the time.  They didn't put out much RPM, but would turn a steeply pitched prop.

That particular Fox is too newfangled for me.  I have a couple of blackhead Combat Specials I'm about to fire up. I just got Jerkline Special plans.

[Phil Bare]

Hi Howard, I don't have a Black Head but I do have a couple of the previous years version, The Silver Head.  A Jearkline Special with a Black Head might be fun, If I could still keep up with it.

Regards, Phil Bare

[john e. holliday]

I am doing good to keep up with my version of the Jerkline Special with a OS .35 on plastic suction tank.  Back then the Equalizer was coming in to use as the Flite Streak was too much construction for combat.   Then the VooDoo showed up and the rest is history.
But, we used waht was popular in the club and could be had from the local hobby shops.

[Phil Bare]

Hi Doc, I was never very serious about combat and just played for my own enjoyment. I did build a Voodoo or two and needless to say, their life spans were pretty short. I did put a needle bearing Fox .29X on one and it was lots of fun while it lasted.     Sport flying was my interest no matter if it was CL, RC, or Free Flight. I was always interested in every thing airplane and was never dedicated to any one thing enough to ever get competative.

[Jim Thomerson]

I turned 105 MPH flying out of a pylon with a pan rat and a 1961 Fox combat special. This was in 1961 at a New Orleans contest.  I was doing well in Rat with my Johnson airplane until it blew a head gasket.