powerjets

My Feedback: (1)

On several occasions Model Airplane News claims Vitaly's winning Yak cost between 4 and 500,000.-
C'mon, really ??

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

I'm sure if you added up all the time/labor and tooling costs into everything to produce that model, that is probably pretty close to the number you would get.

GSR

My Feedback: (145)

They dont use commas in Canada?

John Redman

My Feedback: (8)

When I spoke with Markus Zipperer from JetCat Germany he mentioned this number as well. Keep in mind that it was 4 or 5 guys who worked for close to 2 years on it full time. It was their job. Also keep in mind that number was in Euros, not American dollars!

A whole new level of playing has been shown.

On another note would be Lance Cambell's SR-71. Not all tothe Yak's satndards by any means, but over 9.5 years and I am not sure how many thousands of hours. The materials and such but I would guess it is close to a $250,000 model.

ajp

My Feedback: (4)

Check out the Yak build

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzJab...eature=related

powerjets

My Feedback: (1)

So thats me thinking it's supposed to be a hobby...[&:]

icepilot

I don't think Vitaly's model can be described as a "model" - it's been constructed with almost the same tools, materials
and expertise used to make the real plane, with methods that no regular modeller has access to. It's a fantastic plane,
but far out of reach for the "man in the street". I think that we will see a price limit as well as a weight limit if this
continues.

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

It would be interesting to make the event like a claiming horse race, the top three planes could be purchased after the event for $20,000 each.

That would level the playing field.

Billy

My Feedback: (15)

That is truly a work of art.

I like the tire mold, that was neat.

AndyAndrews

Not replying to Billy but to Icepilot, Don't forget that half the score is flying. I don't see any limitations on $$ spent. This would not be practical nor could it be regulated. I all for anyone who wants to spend mega $$ on these jets. We all profit from the knowledge gained and the money spent.

Andy

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

I realize all the hard labor, and what an incredible model.....but it still looks like a $10-20K model.

AndyAndrews

If you saw it in person you would say much higher. The pictures do not do it justice.

tulz161

So to your eyes it doesn't look any better than cheaply put together mibo a-10? Did you watch the videos?

John Redman

My Feedback: (8)

Out of this world. It is beyond anything that has graced the skies from this hobby. Talking with Graeme Mears about the Yak and his response was we don't even compare. I totally agree. It is the monalisa of models.

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

I heard a rumor that FEJ took a picture of it yesterday and will have a ready to test version that 10 lucky customers can purchase tomorrow at "special pricing"

Beave

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

No doubt about it, the money involved in that Yak is in the things you do not see, or the average modeler who is just looking at photo's can't see. I bet they have over $10,000 US in just Tooling expenses for that quality of a model.

Square Nozzle

My Feedback: (1)

I think I do a pretty decent job on my planes but that plane is simply stunning!

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

Its not that, I dont doubt the price tag.

It's more of a visual "illusion". You typically expect a high end model project to be full of weathering, dirt, basically look like crap out of AMRAAC. However, this being a very new jet you would not expect to see leaks (well it is russian so perhaps some hydeaulic stains), rivets, fasteners, panel lines or grayed out paint. So literally to make it look scale, you would have to make it look clean, like a FEJ out of the box!!!

Of course you then see the gear, the aux inlet, the cockpit up close and you see where the other $480K came from.

David

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

For the record that Yak is Fk'n awesome!

ddlstang

My Feedback: (2)

I don't think anyone here could build that for less than $300,000. Just step back and look at it and what all went into it. The lay-up of the mold for the frame was the dirt cheap part of that project.

olnico

The price sounds a bit excessive.
Looking at the development cost of a twin engined UAV of the same size with a team comprising of 1 CAD engineer and 2 composite technicians, it should be more around 100 000 Euros / max 200 000 USD.
The time spent on detailing would be compensated by the time spent on aerodynamics/systems designing.

rcpete347

My Feedback: (251)

HI all, I heard 3 of them where made. one for regular flying.
Rcpete

LGM Graphix

My Feedback: (22)

I won't argue the cost, nor will I dispute how amazing the model is, it is incredible, but honestly it has got to be nearly the ugliest airplane ever built in the full scale world!!!!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

I agree with you on that jeremy.. the exhaust exits make it look like..well, i'll just stop there..

Helijet

Actually no....pictures don't do it justice. It is a very proportional aircraft. It looks really good in real time. The Yak had a mean , business like presence in the air and flew very, very well in its entire flight envelope. I would describe it as almost Harrier like in appearance. As a ground attack fighter the Russian team picked a winner. It was solid in the air, could be flown slow or fast and take offs and landings were a thing of beauty. Just what a competitor needed and what the judges were looking for.

That was a key to his success

Cheers
Dean Wichmann
2011 WJM CDN Pilot # 56