BERNIE GROSS'
"DEAF HAWK"

 
Below are pictures of Bernie Gross' Pioneer II he calls DEAF HAWK.  You can understand the title when you realize Bernie has been deaf since birth.  He has been flying since 1947 when he had to take a slightly more rigid flight test than someone who can hear.  He is limited to VFR flying, not unlike most of the sport flyers in this country.  Bernie has been a prolific builder over the years, having built a Volmer Sportsman Amphibian, rebuilt and restored an auxilary powered sailplane the Dragan Fly, and of course the Pioneer II.  Bernie has been a long time member of TWITT, and recently brought us these pictures of his older, but well maintained, Marske design.

 
Bernie in his workshop preparing the Pioneer II main spars.
Bernie (left) towing the Pioneer out for a flight.  Notice the bridle type towing harness coming out from beneath the wing.
Bernie flying thePioneer somewhere over the Mohave Desert. This must have been soon after he completed construction, since he has not placed the bird's name on it yet.
Another shot of Bernie making an approach over a desert golf course.
 Bernie Gross' models designed in the '40's. The green and yellow one is a model Tileston Eut built for competition in old time
R/C contests  (SAM - Society of Antique Modelers).  The other two are Bernie with his 1949 model.  (Thanks to Tileston for the pictures.)

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