Frank Hawks/Miller HM-1 "Time Flies"

hesham

hesham

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Hi,

Mr. Frank Hawks and his company,Hawks Aircraft Co. (from Aerofiles site),he designed
a strange stratosphere airplane of 1936,page 43;

https://books.google.com.eg/books?id=LBTqUc-SDZ0C&printsec=frontcover&hl=ar&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.aerofiles.com/_h.html
 

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There are several photos of the HM-1 (NR1313/NX2491) on the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Flickr photostream, including after its modification (link).
Here are a couple of examples, including a photo with Frank Hawks.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/8477421262/
8477421262_6bce0c3055_z.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/8477420804/
8477420804_b7fa6cba2a.jpg
 
Good find Boxman,so it was not project,I will change the title.
 
Hesham, Time Flies is a well known race/recordplane designed by Howell Miller of Gee Bee fame,
it is considered the final realization of the Gee Bee formula.
Hawks had planned to use it for various record attempts, but little came of it, and after a landing
accident it sat unused until rebuilt with a conventional two-place cockpit in an attempt to sell the
design as a fighter, without success.
I recommend moving this post to Aerospace.
 
I'm curious how this (and similar racers) were landed - if anyone can tell me it'd be appreciated. It is one of those facts that slips between the cracks.
 
Is there anyone who can decypher the tekst written on the sideview drawing.
There's noting I found in the concerning tekst about a 'stratosphere fight'..?
 
lark said:
Is there anyone who can decypher the tekst written on the sideview drawing.
There's noting I found in the concerning tekst about a 'stratosphere fight'..?
Click to expand...

My dear Lark,

that's the best larger view,but still can't read it.
 

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Hi! I can read follwing leters.
Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp 1150HP at sea Level, Fire Wall, Oil Tank 25GAL, Gasoline Tanks 230GAL, Radio Receiving Antenna, Battery, Dynamotor, Radder Tab, Radio Transmitting Antenna, Oxygen Bottles, Entrance Door to Pilot Cabin, Wheels...Gyro Pilot...Propeller...Retractable Landing Lights...

I can't find pressurized cabin, turbocharegr or mechanical drive compressor for stratosphere flight in this side view drawing.
 

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blackkite's drawing clarified a little more:
 

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Hi!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawks_Miller_HM-1

"The Hawks Miller HM-1, named "Time Flies" was an American racing aircraft that was the joint project of pilot-owner, Frank Hawks and Howell W. "Pete" Miller, chief engineer for the Granville Brothers. Although very advanced for its time with an enclosed cockpit that highlighted its streamlined lines, development ended after a crash during testing. A completely new design emerged when the aircraft was re-configured as a two-seat military aircraft."
 
Avimimus said:
I'm curious how this (and similar racers) were landed - if anyone can tell me it'd be appreciated. It is one of those facts that slips between the cracks.
Click to expand...

Many big piston aircraft of the era normally flew crab approaches, offering visibility in the direction of flight out the side window. The basic technique is still taught today, as a cross wind landing technique, and as an emergency technique if the view ahead is blocked for any reason. I've flown a few, as long as you don't chicken out, and as long as you time the kick out of the crab just right, it is doable with average skills.

58ff2ff5e9c756621e570a47fb271067.jpg


Of course, if you have steerable landing gear, you can forgo the kick out.

XB-52_crab_landing.jpg
 
Did you use Gyro Pilot?

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gyro+pilot
 
Avimimus said:
I'm curious how this (and similar racers) were landed - if anyone can tell me it'd be appreciated. It is one of those facts that slips between the cracks.
Click to expand...

On this machine, the top window hinges up like a wind screen, and the pilot seat raises, giving the pilot a slightly better view for landing.
 
blackkite said:
Hi! I can read follwing leters.
Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp 1150HP at sea Level, Fire Wall, Oil Tank 25GAL, Gasoline Tanks 230GAL, Radio Receiving Antenna, Battery, Dynamotor, Radder Tab, Radio Transmitting Antenna, Oxygen Bottles, Entrance Door to Pilot Cabin, Wheels...Gyro Pilot...Propeller...Retractable Landing Lights...

I can't find pressurized cabin, turbocharegr or mechanical drive compressor for stratosphere flight in this side view drawing.
Click to expand...

The Twin-Wasp had a built-in mechanical supercharger and according to P&W charts on the AEHS site, the Twin-Wasp BG
was equivalent to an R1830-7 and had a supercharger ratio of 11.94:1.

http://www.enginehistory.org/P&W/R-1830/R-1830Index.pdf
 
Did a bit searchwork in my vintage magazine collection with
Airpower March & Wings April 1978 and Air Pictorial November 1973
which all have subtantial articles about Howell W.Miller and his products.
Not a single mention was made about a planned Stratosphere Flight
with his ' Time Flies'.
Think we may assume that he title of the article was a just promotionl 'pooha' by the author...
 
Just came across some brief Universal Newsreel footage of the Hawks Miller HM-1 "Time Flies" (NR-1313 / NX-1313) on YouTube. It features the HM-1 at East Hartford, Connecticut (the home of Pratt & Whitney), in flight, taxiing, as well as Frank Hawks climbing out of the cockpit through the aircraft's fuselage door.

The newsreel starts at the 54-second mark, and concludes at the 1-minute 31-second mark.

YouTube: AP Archive - Snow, Aviation, Abdicates ("New Speed Plane Expected to Make 375 Miles An Hour")
 
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