by Steve Hartley

The Year is 2087. Steven Hartley is a billionaire. He's also a speed freak. So when He decided to purchase a personal aircraft he wanted great performance. With money being no object, the Hughes PC104 Kaskara seemed to fit the bill.( The kaskara was a type of broadsword characteristic of Sudan. The blade of the kaskara was long, double edged and with a spatulate tip) With a 3 to1 thrust ratio, incredible turn radius and some exclusivity because of it unusual layout He was pleased with the purchase, but right away he wanted more of everything, power, speed and maneuverability.

Once he made that decision, he knew he needed to redesigned the whole craft if it were to accept a powerplant 12 times more powerful than the one he replaced. The airframe was broadened to except more fuel and to withstand the stresses created by the new engine. The wing was lengthened and broadened to bring more balance to the craft and new flaps and airbrakes were connected into the flight programming to help control flight. The last addition to the Kaskara was a high orbit thruster kit that allows sustained ventures up to heights as high as the old space shuttle.

Upon finishing his creation he renamed it Heavens Will after a sacred sword of mythology.

Hartley was quoted as saying, “Its like flying a futuristic GEE BEE, its all engine and guts but I love it”. So far he hasn't reached a top speed as he's still breaking in the engine and avionics, but claims” it's the fastest vehicle I've ever been in”.

This model was created with a 1/144 super guppy turned on its side and chopped up, a medical oxygen filter (the big thing behind the body) Sheet styrene some kitbashing and some Aves. The engine tail cone is scratchbuilt as well as the intake with sheet and Aves. Its sScale is 1/32, so its pretty small.

I wanted to do something different from my usual pointy stuff that flies fast so I went in the opposite direction and made a flying wing. In my imagination this craft would constantly have airfoils moving and adjusting. Like the snowspeeders in Empire Strikes Back. It would look alive in flight. This was a first for me with shiny paint as my usual fare is beat up looking grey stuff.

Image: Front view

Image: Right/rear

Image: More

Image: Rear view

Image: Top

Image: Bottom

Image: Sketch - starting point

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