Largest RC Plane Ever?

[The L]

So what's the largest RC plane ever made by a civilian? (I'm not talking about military drones and such.)

[Andrew McGregor]

A McDonnel Douglass crash test... fullsize DC6.

[Lynxman]

I think the Spruce Goose that was used in the filming of "The Aviator" was an electric giant scale plane with lots of AXI 4130 motors. I don't remember how big it was, but it was pretty big and heavy.

[flypaper 2]

Biggest model I can remember was a glider about 32 ft. span on a video from France at a meet, I think Lefert.

[Larry3215]

The largest on RCGroups was the 50 foot span foamy BIg Floyd. It was the follow up to the 24 foot span Pink Floyd :)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375994&highlight=big+floyd

Larry

[Thomas B]

Are we talking wingspan? Weight? Wing area?

Lots of ways to define big....:)

[Airboatflyingshp]

In the UK their is 1/4 scale lancaster gas prop powered. A giant model of the new airbus I think that holds the turbine powered and the biggest glider is the giant PSS Russian Antanov transport that carried their Buran space shuttle which I believe still holds the glider record.
links to add by edit..........................................

Fly electric http://www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net/largesum.htm#other
UK LMA http://www.largemodelassociation.com/index.html http://www.largemodelassociation.com/Register.htm

http://uk.msnusers.com/lancastersrus/homepage.msnw


http://pssaonline.co.uk/main-pages/pssa%20photo%20gallery.htm
http://pssaonline.co.uk/gallery-pages/an225%20by%20simon%20cocker.htm

this might be of interest as well http://www.masportaviator.com/pdfs/LaFerteVideoReview2-11-05.pdf

[hrvojekl]

I think the Spruce Goose that was used in the filming of "The Aviator" was an electric giant scale plane with lots of AXI 4130 motors. I don't remember how big it was, but it was pretty big and heavy.

Nice article about giant Spruce Goose, H-1B and XF-11 build by Aero Telemetry :

http://www.designnews.com/article/CA513570.html

H

[rcelectfly]

Attached is a picture of the crash of the largest R/C airplane I have ever seen fly. I was there in 1984 when the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility and the Federal Aviation Adimistration (FAA) teamed-up in a unique flight experiment called the Controlled Impact Demonstration (CID). The test involved crashing a radio controlled Boeing 720 aircraft with four JT3C-7 engines burning a mixture of standard fuel with an additive called Anti-misting Kerosene (AMK) designed to supress fire. Needless to say the anti-misting stuff did not stop the fire.

The Boeing 720 is a smaller and faster version of the 707 and has a wingspan of 145 feet 9 inches.

I don't know if this is the largest R/C aircraft ever but it was by far the largest I have ever seen fly.

Chuck

[Tram]

Yeh, I would have said the 720 also..

[Airboatflyingshp]

There is one word missing thats inherent in the forum but not in the original question....... model ..so yep :) you can take a full size Aircraft and fly it by RC. Most Modern Airliners also spend substantial amounts of time flying themselves, are they UAV's?

Lets see what the barmy obsessed few have constructed just for fun/entertainment ........somewhere theres a French Super Connie that stands as high as a mans chest.... :D :D

Its knowhere near that but try these flyingboats http://www.westfieldmodels.co.uk/index_files/page0006.htm or top of the page the trade wind http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2341739/mpage_5/key_/tm.htm

[Tram]

Most Modern Airliners also spend substantial amounts of time flying themselves, are they UAV's?

I'd have to say no.. They are definitely not unmanned.. Also, they are not R/C or remotely controlled.. ;)

[Airboatflyingshp]

Hi Tram ..sorry I wasn't thinking literally when I wrote that :o ..... in terms of the unmanned element.
I was thinking rather in terms of the degree of in flight automation/navigation that is possible. :)
I'm still looking for that French Connie!

[Accu157]

Don't forget the Russian Space Shuttle.

[nitebat]

Folks:

Inside the Boeing 720 pictured above...

Now that's realism! :eek:

nitebat

[Majortomski]

Folks:

Inside the Boeing 720 pictured above...

Now that's realism! :eek:

nitebat


Did you know there was a racial discrimination suit brought against this test? The first load of anthromorphic dummies had light skin, because they're pretty heavy to drag on board they got plopped down in the front seats. The second load of dummies had dark skin. They got put in the remaining seats, in the back of the plane. The test was stopped till the skin tones were evenly distributed through the cabin.

[DiveBombDave]

They must've had the oxygen masks already deployed - Look at their faces.

Calm like Hindu cows. :)

Dave

[TimOBrien]

I went out to Iowa to see Byron's mega-airshow a couple of decades ago.
They rolled out and taxied (but did not fly) a 400lb 30foot span B-29.

Here's a movie of it crashing:
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/218888

More on it here:
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/218888

[punkrockd]

wooow that sucks. such a big beautiful airplane. first atom bomb. makes me wanna cry.

[Tram]

Calm like Hindu cows. :)


First rule of Fight Club.. You must not talk about Fight Club..

[punkrockd]

same as the second rule

[Airboatflyingshp]

La Ferte is the name but the searches just keep throwing up Propwash products............. but heres a PDF link http://www.masportaviator.com/pdfs/LaFerteVideoReview2-11-05.pdf

[cyclops2]

The newest jets are so computer controlled that a rumor is the pilots could not really take control fast enough. ANND.
They want to do away with a foward cabin windshield. To make more profits. I hope Bush has Airforce One converted to that first. Since it is so safe for everyone else.

[punkrockd]

I hope Bush has Airforce One converted to that first. Since it is so safe for everyone else.

AGREED !!

[portablevcb]

Concord already did that. And it was taken out by blown tire.

Pilots can take back control, but, they have to figure out what is going on first. If ready to take control most of the time all it takes is throwing a switch.

F-18 pilots were not permitted to touch the controls when on cat launch. Automatic controls. Also, the landings can be done by autopilot as well.

Fly by wire. Ultimate in remote control.

charlie

[8kasl]

"flying brick---I like that"

[shaneyee]

F-18 pilots were not permitted to touch the controls when on cat launch. Automatic controls. Also, the landings can be done by autopilot as well.

Fly by wire. Ultimate in remote control.

charlie

That takes away the "Top Gun" aura that surrounds carrier pilots doesn't it..... kinda lame to have a computer take off and land for you. You couldn't have the scene in the beginning of the movie "Top Gun" where the pilot almost couldn't land his plane because of nerves. If they shot the movie now he would just have to flick a switch, close his eyes and think happy thoughts. :p

Shane

[troyzboy]

So what's the largest RC plane ever made b'y a civilian? (I'm not talking about military drones and such.)
the largest kit plane is the spruce goose. wing span 58'-11"
cord(langth) 41'-10"
wing: Depth 6'-1.5" wing: Thickness 10.4"
keel to tail tip 9'-2"
tail width 17'-3.5"
weight with fabric 97lbs.
note:45 rolls are required
Engines:8 gas or electric
gas: 17cc min. to 28cc max. EACH
electric: 8? note: can use motor cycle engine 12V. in fusulage with small generator in conjunstion with 8 voltage regulators for each motor to give a flight time of "" 2.3-3.7hours flight"" this is true!!!
body: shoulder inside 45"(space)
two kits built/yr. Kennedy Space Centre

[Thomas B]

the largest kit plane is the spruce goose. wing span 58'-11"
cord(langth) 41'-10"
wing: Depth 6'-1.5" wing: Thickness 10.4"
keel to tail tip 9'-2"
tail width 17'-3.5"
weight with fabric 97lbs.
note:45 rolls are required
Engines:8 gas or electric
gas: 17cc min. to 28cc max. EACH
electric: 8? note: can use motor cycle engine 12V. in fusulage with small generator in conjunstion with 8 voltage regulators for each motor to give a flight time of "" 2.3-3.7hours flight"" this is true!!!
body: shoulder inside 45"(space)
two kits built/yr. Kennedy Space Centre

Can you translate that a little more for us normal earth people?

None of those numbers add up for a Spruce Goose and there is NO WAY to build a 59 foot span Spruce Goose to a weight of 97 lbs....or are you trying to say that the FABRIC weights 97 lbs?

Put up some proof...if you have any.

[RCAV8R13]

Back in the 80s there was a company called Byron originals. They made and flew a huge B29 that weighted about 450lbs.
RCA

[staggerwing]

For those who didn't happen to see this for sale in RCU (which it still is), it certainly isn't the largest but an interesting RC plane for the price.
One drawback other than storage & transporting it might be its applicability to AMA & IMAA rules as there are size & weight restrictions, but flying it would be interesting.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=346141