Check this out! Please tell me this isn't a new trend! I'd have to think this would not only require AMA Waivers, but also a pilots license and an FAA airframe certification! Holy Moly!

Hover this baby in fron of a crowd and see who sits-up and notices!

Craig


General Info:
Wing span: 208"
Fuselage length: 192"
Weight ( dry ): 350 lbs

Motor: HKS 700cc Four Cycle Opposed

Prop: Power Fin 3-Bladed 64" Diameter, Ground Pitch Adjustable.

Radio: JR-10x

Servos:
Rudder: Seiko UAV Scale
Elevators: Seiko UAV Scale
Ailerons: Seiko UAV Scale
Throttle: Seiko UAV Scale

Batteries: 34 AH Aircraft Battery, on a 12V system

Regulator: Power routed through a custom Voltage Regulation and Filtration System by Power Flight

Comments on plane:
CONSTRUCTED FROM: Aircraft grade mohogany plywood, spruce, fiberglass & carbon pre pregnated, and Nomex honey comb. This aircraft has a 12 volt system, onboard starter, and an onboard charge system. With a 34 AH aircraft battery all power is routed through a custom designed voltage regulation and filtration system by POWER FLIGHT. The output from the charging system is enough to fly the airplane, shoud I lose battery power.

At this point why bother with R/C this person is 90% into Homebuilt Aircraft! Someone quick! He has to much money and needs places to invest it!

In any case It does look impressive. I keep pictureing my Dog in the cockpit!

Shawnusa

Impressive??? Yes!
Ridiculous??? Yes!

I don't feel that falls in the category of being a model just because of it's size and equipment. Yes our technology has progreesed to the point where we can do something like this, but I feel there has to be a cut off point. If he can afford to build one this big then just do a full scale and climb in and fly it your self. I agree, hover that in front of a crowd and watch what happens if he losses control, heck for that matter just lose control flying it normally.

"You Can Run But, You Can't Hide," mean anything to you??

It's pretty neat! It's not really a model, though. I DO think the FAA should be looking at that, not the AMA.
The bottom line to me is that I don't think the AMA insurance should have anything to do with a 300 pound aircraft. I have NO problem with people building them, I just don't want to pay to insure them!

As far as "this guy should just do a home-built", well, that's apples and oranges. Building something you are actually going to climb into is a different story altogether. That knowlege, that you could DIE if you don't do it right, makes you do things very differently than you would in a model, even a 300 pound one.
And models are just DIFFERENT from full scale. I like models BETTER!
I think it's a free country, you can build whatever you want, you just may have to deal with the appropriate authorities(the FAA) if you build something this big.
I don't think it's rediculous, it's not for me, but it must float that other guy's boat, or he would not have done it!

Riduclous, maybe, BUT, it is DANG COOL!

I want to see vids!

I don't want to question anyones integrity here but... some of those pictures on the web site for this plane look suspect. particularly the photo of them standing next to the plane in the street.

Anybody know this guy personally? Is this all a hoax?

And the web site URL is?

Yea, where is that web site.
I'm beginning to doubt that it is real.

Now that is one impressive model... As to how real this thing is, well from my experience in graphic design, I would have to say looking at this pic! this is the real deal. Sure you can make anything look real with graphic manipulation, but this is very time consuming, and you gotta ask why bother?
The way to tell at a glance is shadow fall and light reflection... also check out the other monster on the left, this lends cred to pic.

You will notice some great flying pics of models on many R/C magazine covers and ads,
Have you ever tried taking a good pic of a model flying????
next to impossible to get good images without professional equipment and much waisted film...

Heres an example of what I did with an image of Tom Cooks 'Firebird'...this was for a website.

Heres what I started with-

Aint computers fun... Try to get a flight shot like this : )

And in few minutes I can make it look like this:

Is that a Carl Goldberg clevis being used on the elevator?

Real deal or not, I dont think it matters in the eyes of the AMA. The airplane is way over the 55 lb limit imposed by the AMA so he would not be covered anyway. Hope he/she has their own umbrella policy in case of an accident.

At 350 lbs I wonder how the FAA views that. Isn't 350 more than an ultralight class aircraft can weigh?
Cheers.
James

I think the AMT Concorde would come into this category as well I beleve you can fly these models but not with the standard AMA coverage. I would sure like to see that Concorde fly, now thats one awesome model...

Sorry, I thought the web site was above. This model was also referenced in another thread. Here is the link

http://www.gsal.org/projects/Robt_Sawyer/70Staud.htm

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ozcan
Try to get a flight shot like this : )


That's a real inflight shot of my HotSpot in my avatar. I was fortunate to have a good photographer.

That model looks good to me would be great to see flying.

Dustflyer, yer right a professional cameraman does help! I bet he still went through quite a few shots to get one or two good ones : )

These huge U.S. models should have more special events arranged just for them like in the U.K. and Europe. Aside from the QSAA flyin in Vegas

Same with my avatar.

Same with my avatar.Hee Hee

hold your TX climb into the cockpit and fly it is that simple

Truly Fly By Wire!!

Yes guys, it is the real deal. The guy holding the tailwheel in the street picture is a friend of mine. That was his first meeting with Mr. Sawyer. Also, my buddy George Hicks, aerodynamicist for Sino Swearingen, did all the projected flight load and hinge moment analysis.

It will be on display at this years IMAC Nats in Muncie.

As for the AMA, what the hell do they have to do with it!

Its over 55 lbs and will never be flown at an AMA field or event. Its clearly out of their jurisdiction or responsibility.

Dan

I have seen that Concorde at several fly-ins, but never flying....just sitting around looking perty. Has it ever flown? or is it just a big ornament? We were looking at it at Florida Jets, and the wing and fuselage were horribly bowed. It looked like water or heat damage or something. I don't remember seeing it like that in the past (previous shows and whatnot).