The U.S. Navy flying R/C model F-18,
reported on here in an earlier story
was destroyed in a crash on 8/14/97. Jeff Foley, of Foley
Manufacturing, who was involved in the  development of the
model, tells us the test data collected from the plane
had been very favorable and closely followed that of the
full size aircraft. "The model crashed due to
failure of the right aileron hinges which resulted in the
surface departing the aircraft. The resulting loss of
wing area and decreased control authority resulted in
loss of control. The model was too low for the emergency
chute to deploy" said Foley after attending a
post-crash investigation on 8/20/97.The Navy has not
yet decided if the beautiful $400,000. R/C test model
will be rebuilt.
-Wayne Sagar-
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