Blue Max and Midwest Hots

It must have been 1985 and my dad decided to build a plane that was featured in the February issue of Model Aviation, called the Blue Max II.

It was basically a 40 size version of Chuck Cunningham's Hooker design ( Oct 1981 RCM, plan 851 ) only it was designed by Jim Allen Jr.  I used it in a fun fly contest in the summer of 1986, I guess.  It was an easy plane to fly, quite aerobatic, but could also fly slow.  Even though I had only just got my wings a few months previous, I didn't have a problem flying this airplane and it was my first introduction to aerobatics.  Anyway, the event in question was the fastest circuit, where the airplane had to cross both boundaries of the field.  I won the event and the prize was a Midwest Hots kit ( designed by Dan Santich )!

It was built during the winter and the following summer, I was asked to fly a demonstration at the Thompson Products company picnic day.  This, I did, using the Hots.  There were pony rides and all kinds of people around.  Something like this wouldn't be considered safe today, I'm sure!  In any case, I flew out of the parking lot, avoiding the light standards on landing.  After about 8 flights, I finally hit the light standard on final approach and it couldn't have been more centered!  It sheared the muffler off the engine and damaged the wing root.  At this point, I remember saying, "Now you've seen all aspects of the hobby!".  Whenever I drive by that parking lot today, I wonder how I ever did such a thing!

Plans for the Blue Max II are available from the AMA plans service ( 00465 ).
The Hots is featured in Model Airplane News ( April 1984 )