The cockpit was extended for takeoff and landing, but retracted in flight, with the pilot's seat lowered and the windshield becoming flush with the fuselage.

After its first flight on October 18, 1936, Hawks flew "Time Flies", from Hartford, Connecticut, to Miami, Florida, on April 13, 1937, in 4 hours and 55 minutes.

[1] With the intention to demonstrate the aircraft's potential, pilot Leigh Wade entered the MAC-1/HM-1 in the 1938 Thompson Trophy race.

[5] In essentially military configuration with dummy machine guns fitted, Wade flew the aircraft to a fourth-place finish.

[N 3] On August 23, 1938, Ortman flew above Rentschler Field, adjacent to the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft factory where their employees and Hamilton Standard technicians were available.