One for the Rotor-heads...

Dec 20, 2007 37 Replies

Piasecki X49-A "Speedhawk"...really interesting scratch-building project for the helo-heads amongst us...I may try one myself:



formatting link


when was that from, rufus? it looks like 70's exp. damn cool. i want a 1/48 pie flying banana, but i don't know if there is such a critter. do you know? anyone out there?

Brand new.

formatting link

That's from right now - first flight was 29 June, 2007. It's a modified Blackhawk, hence a neat subject for a kit bash. And it's just plain cool looking.

I saw the thing on the cover of a trade mag at work a few days ago and can't seem to get it out of my head...one of our SAR helo pilots was talking about it with me for a bit. The tech could seriously put the Tiltrotor out of biz if politics don't get in the way. Or do get in the way...

thanks, bill. the tail threw me...looks retro but i suppose that's the newest part?

that's why i love this group. everyone teaches everyone else....

...ok...this wasn't what I was looking for, or my fav scale, but it's mighty interesting...

formatting link

ok...this is more like what I was looking for...

Seems Hobbycraft makes one in 1/72...and there's this one available in 1/48:

formatting link

a few details maybe? just the maker would do. i remember seeing those on the various demo days the 82nd had when they were stationed in nurnburg. they let us kids crawl all over everything.....but carefully supervised. even got to go inside a tank but i don't remember what it was.

thanks. hobbycrafts take work but can be made presentable. hello ebay?

Once upon a time Aurora had one out. It wasn't an original Aurora kit but it was about the same level of mould technology. Since then I believe Hobbycraft had one in 1/48th along with their 1/72nd kit.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Hobbycraft's 1/72 H-21 is ok, but Italeri in the same scale is just plain beautiful...in a banana sort of way.

Tom

I remember something very similar called the Piasecki "Pathfinder II":

formatting link
's more info on the Speedhawk:
formatting link
Pat

Note the similarity. Evidently, Piasecki have been doing this sort of thing for some time. I like the concept.

that's the onw i would build. price isn't bad, considering the generall excellent quality of fm kits. thanks, bud.

going to mum's for the holiday? we're going to big bear to laugh at the snow.

On the other hand though...if the military didn't want it the first time, why would they want it now? Piasecki has gone off in odd directions before, most notably with the giant blimp-helicopter hybrid Helistat that fell apart in midair, killing the pilot:

formatting link
that the official company website doesn't mention that it crashed. I find that interesting, to say the least. ...as is the fact that it used four Sikorsky helicopter bodies rather than Piasecki ones. :-) Piasecki isn't exactly a giant in the field of helicopters anymore; the company has 53 employees:
formatting link
Pat

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required