SkyFire

[Tone]

Matchbox has another new casting in its Sky-Busters line. This time it is an aerobat plane called SkyFire. Unfortunately the wings are plastic and not metal. Radical and questionable design feature include small windows right below the wings and exhaust pipes right near the wings' leading edges.



"Only the bravest daredevils will engage in the fastest aerial action around-only the Skyfire can bring it! Loops, nosedives and trick turns-they're all in a day's work for the ultimate Skyfire."

[angelreader]

The planform is certainly 'Extra' design,its a neat model and one that I will look out for,thank you for alerting us to this one.
Barry.

[grwebster]

re: Radical and questionable design feature include small windows right below the wings
Tony, the use of transparent panels in the sides and floors of aerobatic planes is common with the world class competition planes like the Extra and Sukhoi. Those Red Bull aircraft have them. Allows the pilot to see through the fuselage. I flew aerobatics for 10 years in france but the plane I used was a Cap-10 and didn't have them. Big disadvantage in competition. The Cap-10 was the aircraft the famed French Connection team used until they had a mid-air and perished.
The extended exhausts allowed smoke generation.

[Tone]

I thought that both would compromise the strength of the wing.

[angelreader]

I thought that both would compromise the strength of the wing.

Its not a stresssed skin wing Tone so not reliant on the covering or these windows,as GR has pointed out this is common practise on these aerobatic types.
Barry.

[angelreader]

re: Radical and questionable design feature include small windows right below the wings
Tony, the use of transparent panels in the sides and floors of aerobatic planes is common with the world class competition planes like the Extra and Sukhoi. Those Red Bull aircraft have them. Allows the pilot to see through the fuselage. I flew aerobatics for 10 years in france but the plane I used was a Cap-10 and didn't have them. Big disadvantage in competition. The Cap-10 was the aircraft the famed French Connection team used until they had a mid-air and perished.
The extended exhausts allowed smoke generation.

Was that the Givaudan CAP-10 machine GR ? we had Smitty here in the UK use aerobatic aircraft for publicity and very successful it was too.
Barry.

[grwebster]

No, I wasn't a believer in corporate sponsoring for Givaudan - low profile.
Aerobatics was just my private hobby.