boeing rc plane
YouTube: RC MEDIA WORLD

World's Biggest RC Plane Takes to the Skies


Advertisement

Question for all the gearheads out there: Does it still count as a model plane if it's big enough to fly a small child? That's the question everyone was asking after seeing the world's largest remote control plane take to the skies. Well, I assume they were asking that question. Or something similar. I don't know, I can't read minds.

Built by Adi Pitz and piloted by Rainer Kamitz, this Boeing 747-400 is as close as you'll get to the real thing. You know, without actually being the real thing. Let's be honest, the only passengers that could fly commercial on this airliner would maybe be a family of squirrels. But, hey, still an impressive feat of engineering nonetheless.

In July 2015, the giant RC plane showed what it could do at the Airliner Meeting in Oppingen, Germany. At nearly 18 feet long and with a wingspan greater than 16 feet, you'll wonder how it will ever get off the ground. But, if the big boys can do it, then so can this "little" guy. It even sounds like an actual plane!

Advertisement

Read More: Motorcycle with an Airplane Engine and Hubless Wheels Takes to the Streets

And, there she goes! Up, up, and away. Pretty incredible, right? Here are a couple more specs for you: Weighing in at just under 150 pounds, this massive plane is powered by four IQ Hammer 140 turbine engines, which put out a little over 30 pounds of thrust each.

All told, it took more than 2,000 hours to put this RC Boeing together. 2,000 hours! Do you remember the last time you spent 2,000 cumulative hours on one thing? Other than sleeping and eating, of course. This whole project isn't an endeavor that your average hobbyist could tackle, that's for sure.

This post was originally published on February 17, 2017.

Advertisement

WATCH: Paul Walker: How Much Was the Late Actor Worth?