Designing the XF-11

Completing the XF-11 airplane in less than 3 months proved to be one of the biggest challenges for the Aero Telemetry team.  Joe and his team had to design, build, and test a custom set of hydraulic, retractable landing gear, fabricate an ultra-strong airframe, coordinate a complex airborne flight control system, and integrate all of these systems seamlessly to overcome the aerodynamic stresses of high speed and heavy payload.

The primary scale models for The Aviator were the Aero Telemetry XF-11 and the H-4 Hercules or Spruce Goose. Both of these airplanes would be designed and fabricated over a period of 3 months by Joe Bok and his Aero Telemetry team. At the time, they were the worlds largest (unmanned) flyable scale aircraft ever flown for a big budget Hollywood movie.

The aerodynamic profile of the wing, engine thrust-lines, CG location, main airfoil angle of attack, incidence angles (between wing and horizontal stabilizer), counter-rotating propellers, and vertical stabilizer offset angles were just a few of the critical design criteria addressed and implemented correctly by the Aero Telemetry engineering design team. All these specific details contributed directly to the success and margin of safety exemplified in all the flights of the Aero Telemetry XF-11.

Hughes XF-11 website

Click below to see all things XF-11!

http://www.aviatorxf11.com

New H-1 Racer Website

Check out this new website about the Hughes H-1 Racer.
http://www.h1racer.com/

10 Year Anniversary H-1 Racer - Mystery Mesa

10th Anniversary fo the Aero Telemetry's H-1 Racer flight at Mystery Mesa for the Academy Award winning film The Aviator.  11-17-13

10 Year Anniversary H-1 Racer - El Mirage

Making aviation history with our H-1 Racer built for the movie The Aviator. 10 Year anniversary of the first flight at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed. 11-4-13

Unique Model Aviation Covers

The AMA included Aero Telemetry's cover as one of the Top Ten Unique Model Aviation Covers. You can view the full list here. http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/modelaviation/2013/10/07/10-unique-model-aviation-covers/

July 2005

Martin Scorsese utilized model airplanes to achieve realistic flight scenes for his hit movie The Aviator. He contracted Aero Telemetry—a company owned by AMA member Joe Bock—to design, construct, and operate models of Howard Hughes’ airplanes on camera. This issue contains the first of three articles about how Joe and his crew successfully completed the project.
On the cover, Joe and fellow crew member John Keefe load up the Hughes H-1 racer after its record-setting flights during filming for the movie.

Read the full issue at https://library.modelaviation.com/ma/2005/7/1

Heavy Duty Landing Gear System

Main Landing Gear Technical Specifications Aero Telemetry Heavy Duty System:

Heavy Duty, universal mount hydraulic retractable landing gear for Unmanned Air Vehicles up to 2800 lbs (1270Kg) 

Retractable Main Landing Gear - Technical Specifications:

Structural Material: Steel Alloy

Retraction Method: 2000psi Hydraulic Actuator

Length from pivot to center of axle: 28.50 inches

Length from pivot to bottom of tire (uncompressed): 36.50 inches

Max Stroke length: 7.75 inches

Max Main gear load (per strut) = 2500 lbs

Wheel: Goodrich/Goodyear alloy steel

Tire: Single Goodrich/Goodyear Pneumatic Ribbed with tube, 16 inch diameter

*Weight as shown: 30 lbs each side

*Weight does not include hydraulic lines, wiring harness, switches, hydraulic pump, steel frame or brakes.

Nose-Wheel Landing Gear Steerable, Retractable - Technical Specifications:

Structural Material: Steel Alloy

Retraction Method: 2000 psi Hydraulic Actuator

Length from pivot to center of axle: 26.00 inches

Length from pivot to bottom of tire (uncompressed): 32-34 inches

Max Stroke length: 6.99 inches

Max Nose gear load = 2500 lbs

Steering Method: Pushrod or cable pull system

Wheel: Goodrich/Goodyear alloy steel

Tire: Goodrich/Goodyear Pneumatic Ribbed with tube, 12-14 inch max diameter

*Weight as shown: 30 lbs

*Weight does not include hydraulic lines, wiring harness, switches, hydraulic pump, steel frame or brakes.

Options for Aero Telemetry Standard Landing Gear System:

1) Disc Brake system for Main Landing Gear (1 for each side, left and right)

2) Disc Brake system for nose-wheel landing gear

3) 24VDC battery system for hydraulic pump. Includes aluminum mounting enclosure.

All specifications subject to change without notice.