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Biggest RC Airplane Competition in the World (VIDEO+PICS)

gizmodo.com — Top Gun 2008, the 20th anniversary edition of the biggest RC model competition in the world, starts tomorrow. Five days of pure nerdgasm watching the most stunning, biggest and best remote control aircraft in the planet. The ultimate toys this side of a real fighter jet.

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  • maxthreepwood, on 04/23/2008, -1/+14$10 per ticket (but the characters from Thunderbirds get in the show free). Those things are huge. So awesome.

    Wish I was in Florida this week.
    • scott2368, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2wish I had the money to buy one of those

      really cool stuff
      • aywwts4, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5I remember watching a video of one of these huge RC plane builders, one of them had a very good quote. "You don't just need to have enough money to afford one of these planes, you need to have enough money to crash them, and not get broken up about it"

        I don't think RC planes will ever be the hobby for me ;)
        • ArmandoM, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5If you have a good teacher you don't crash...

          Well, at least you don't crash your trainer plane. I still have my trainer 8 years later, and even still fly it once in a while when I'm in the mood for something slow and docile.

          I have however crashed 2 of the 6 that I own, due to me getting cocky and showing off just a bit too much.

          It's really not all that expensive to get started... no worse than many other hobbies. $200-300 for everything you need to learn, plus insurance if you fly at an AMA sanctioned field.
        • michaelb323, on 04/23/2008, -1/+6***** THE AMA!
          • ramsinks.com, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1Um, that's like F the EFF!

            Please, get educated.
    • coreyb, on 04/23/2008, -0/+11That is what my pop does, real turbines and all. They are cool for the first few years, and once in a while on an odd weekend. But when your dad packs you up to go watch a bunch of old guys play with toys, every weekend as a kid, it gets old quick...
    • CedEx, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5$10 per ticket? You know many of those people who paid are there hoping to see one crash.
  • wohho, on 04/23/2008, -0/+9bitchin. I saw a lot of these guys in Winamac Indiana one time at a scale air show held there. There was four prop engine Stratofortress that had to be damn near the biggest scale RC model ever built. very impressive craftsmanship from these guys.
    • NEUTRINO50, on 04/23/2008, -2/+3How the hell are inherently unstable airframes stay up in the air: F-16/18? do they actually have fly-by-wire going on ??? considering that the dimensions are right of course
    • blup3ace, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2that F-100 is really sexy though...
      they aren't fly by wire...wing are controlled by servos which are wired to a central controller on the airplane. however, the controller is remotely connected to an RC receiver used by the pilot.
    • m0zzie, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1dugg for "bitchin". not enough people use that these days.
  • flipmeat, on 04/23/2008, -0/+28Some of these models use real turbine engines the size of a soda can. They can exceed 100,000 RPM and put out ~20 pounds of thrust. You hope the RC pilots don't sneeze.
    • Ramble, on 04/23/2008, -6/+2It's not difficult to make a gas turbine.
      • jmpeagle, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8i don't think that's his pont....
      • pdrap, on 04/23/2008, -0/+7A fart and a pinwheel is technically a gas turbine, so you're right.
      • legoalert33, on 04/23/2008, -0/+7Then put that gas turbine on a plane and try to fly it.
    • NeilVickers, on 04/23/2008, -0/+11Speaking as an R/C pilot, I can honestly say that you REALLY hope that you don't sneeze too. When you're staring up at a small plane silhouetted against a bright sky it really doesn't take much to lose situational awareness or orientation.
  • mikegcallahan, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6the pilots inside some planes actually move. Thunderbirds indeed. Crazy stuff.
  • yokozuka, on 04/23/2008, -2/+27Some of them have working weapons systems, which is quite cool. I always wonder how comes that no terrorists or wackos use these things to do bad stuff. I mean, that F-18 could carry a few pounds of C-14 or, worse, nitro or some other crazy things (people from the FBI or the NSA should take note of all this).

    Ooops. Gotta go now, someone's is banging at the door...
    • jnava121, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3what are you going to do train a mouse terrorist to fly and navigate the thing when it goes out of sight of your radio control? lol.... Loud noisy gas powered engine, no one would hear that thing coming......

      • AKron, on 04/23/2008, -1/+2They have taken notice, and the AMA is working with DHS to try and preserve the sport at this time.
      • Spire3660, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3Are you 12? GPS + RC plane + deadly payload = who gives a ***** if you hear it. You cant readily shoot it down or stop it by most conventional air-to-air or ground-to-air weapons systems.
        • pjkli, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5Yeah, I wouldn't conside a .22 rifle or a pellet gun "conventional ground-to-air weapons" either.
          • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5Well I guess you could if you had a RC scale Stinger missile or AAA battery.
          • Spire3660, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4Yeah good luck with hitting a target moving in 3d space at speeds up to and including 200 MPH
      • michaelb323, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6Shh dude, thats all our politicians need to take away our right to fly model airplanes.
    • TrevorPace, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5I'm gonna have to agree with jnava, besides rockets are much more efficient in blowing things up.
    • Flatlineskillz, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2Allright Zero you better get your minigun ready because I think Berkley is sending another wave. Better shoot em down before they blow your transmitters and you can't launch a counter attack.
    • graemee, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3I did not realize Carbon 14 was a WMD.
    • NEUTRINO50, on 04/23/2008, -0/+1They probably jam/monitor unauthorized radio frequencies when someone important is around so control signals to aircraft don't go through? Just like for coaching staff in NFL games :)
      • Spire3660, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2What if the plane switches to GPS to navigate to the target? I really need to stop typing now.....
        • NEUTRINO50, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1GPS is signal operated - it can be jammed :) I'd guess military crap is more resilient though.
  • DeskFlyer, on 04/23/2008, -0/+33This one has always been my favorite (not a rickroll): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmKdA6L_MWk
  • holyskeleton, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8makes me wanna replay the mission "death from above".
  • DarkSamus, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3Enemy airstrike!!
  • gheide, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3I'm in the video... hmmm... I've been a few times, and it's definitely worth it... Especially since even the pro's crash once in a while :-)
  • FukUrCouch, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4They should hire these people to create full scale RC airplanes....
    • djpants428, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5big enough so you could ride inside them!
      • yokozuka, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2and five thousand scale seats inside for tiny people!
        • uptwolait, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4or three thousand scale seats inside for (not so) tiny Americans!
    • uptwolait, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5They probably wouldn't be interested. The thrill is in recreating all of the details and functionality of the original in scale size.
    • elementop, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2If I build it full scale, I'm going to be sitting in it when it flies :)
  • turbopro, on 04/23/2008, -0/+9all that and they didnt show the blackbird fly...
    • culbeda, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2"...if you like amazingly detailed, huge aircraft models—like the SR-71 above—head to Lakeland, Florida, and Top Gun 2008 " ... because we sure as hell aren't going to show you any video of it here. I would have considered buying the video for my son to watch, but that just pissed me right the hell off.
  • matrix121, on 04/23/2008, -2/+7Dugg for "nerdgasm"
  • republicker, on 04/23/2008, -0/+27our UAV is online
  • crushtheenemy, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5i used to work for a guy that manufactures these things. this stuff is seriously awesome.
  • hokie47, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8I bet the blackbird would be a bitch to control.
    • joeguitargod, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I would have to agree with you hokie47. I would think that you would have to keep that thing going at a pretty quick pace for the control surfaces to be effective. That is assuming that they are made to scale. Maybe they are enlarged a bit to be more effective at lower speeds? Just a thought.
  • AndreasTh, on 04/23/2008, -0/+10"Virgin Atlantic"
  • jmpeagle, on 04/23/2008, -0/+23I'm going to start a rival RC competition and plan bombing runs on this one
    • estvir, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1That'd be so awesome.

      Wasn't there a bunch of people who had actual 'fights' using model naval ships?
  • SteelTallon, on 04/23/2008, -0/+16The detail and craftsmanship that goes into those are just amazing, and time consuming. For years, I have wanted to make a scale F-4U Corsair, with all the trimmings. Only problem is the $$$$ (lack of). So, for now I have my Tower Trainer 40, and a dream..lol
    Of course, if I managed to build this thing, my nerves would probably not let me fly it.. :-( I give "props" (pun intended) to these guys for having the creativity and ballz to fly something that amazing.
    • DteK, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6indeed. Have a duraplane 40 kit and a dream of building a P51D. Think it will be a project I save for when I hopefully have a little boy to share with.
      • SteelTallon, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4Exactly! My son is 6 years old, and I have just gotten back into planes for that reason. Father, son bonding I hope!! Especially, now that I don't have to bore him with kits and building (that's my fun, not his) ARF's, RTF's are right up his alley, and mine! As the cost over the years has gone down which allows anyone to enjoy the sport now, without breaking the bank...lol Just don't tell the wife :-)
        • estvir, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3Kids (Well, boys anyway) are such a good excuse for grown men to get back into things they love. :)
    • NeilVickers, on 04/23/2008, -0/+7Nice to hear that there are still a few of us who enjoy building a model from the sticks up. Seems like there are more and more ARF'ers every year.
      • SteelTallon, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5I agree with you there! Back when I started 20+ years ago ARF meant "All Ready Flown". Meaning I bought it off someone else who put it together..lol Now, with ARF's and RTF's available and cheap! There really is no reason to build from scratch, unless you want to for the personal touch. My Tower Trainer I bought a month ago, is an RTF version (literally, tightened some bolts, gave it some fuel and took off). For $250.00 came with radio,engine, and plane built and covered. You would be hard pressed to get a kit up and going from scratch for that kinda $$... But I still enjoy kit building as a winter project from time to time. Although, my skills are no where near these guys!! :-)
      • elementop, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3I've done it a couple of times, usually from the plans for a kit I had already wrecked. The one exception was when I tried to design and build a semi-scale Super Cub replica with an electric engine. It looked good, but was too heavy to fly :(
  • jnava121, on 04/23/2008, -7/+4Charlie: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Is there something wrong?
    Maverick: Yes ma'am, the data on the MiG is inaccurate.
    Charlie: How's that, Lieutenant?
    Maverick: Well, I just happened to see a MiG 28 do a...
    Goose: We!
    Maverick: Uh, sorry Goose. WE happened to see a MiG 28 do a 4g negative dive.
    Charlie: Where did you see this?
    Maverick: Uh, that's classified.
    Charlie: It's what?
    Maverick: It's classified. I could tell you, but then you have to buy tickets to this R/C show to see for yourself...
    • DteK, on 04/23/2008, -1/+1no props for Top Gun references.
    • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2Sorry mate, I dig down any comment on sight having anything to do with Tom Cruise.
      • dfdub, on 04/23/2008, -0/+1Good call. You know... just to be safe.
  • DeFex, on 04/23/2008, -1/+7mythbusters should come and put RC on an actual b52.
  • TeraRealm256, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5Friendly air strike on the way!
  • YodaJones, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5I want to see a F-22 model out there. Anybody?
  • Soulbow2, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3It even has Gran Turismo music.
  • tgelston, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4The video from the "flying HD" is pretty bad ass.
  • Pahtcub, on 04/23/2008, -1/+4Planks blow, fixed wings are for pu$$ys
    • NeilVickers, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4Ah, you must fly one of those with the 'weed whacker' attachments on top.
      • Pahtcub, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3Dugg for getting the comment!
        • NeilVickers, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3I'm one of the "Two planks are better than one!" crowd, but I've got to admit that I've always wanted to give weed whacking a go too.
  • punkcat, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4Um where is the Tomcat? can't tell me there was an air show without someone making a tomcat.

    bomber actually dropping bombs is cool though.


  • FelixdaaHack, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3YEAH...I'm in the danger zone baby
  • subarusqueege, on 04/23/2008, -0/+5As I understand it, The jet powered ones have engines that cost $6000 apiece.
    • NeilVickers, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6You can buy/build a fully functional turbine model for $6000 these days. Typical turbine engines cost around $1500 to $3000 per unit (example - http://www.jetcatusa.com/p60.html) Now the multi-turbine models..... THERE'S some money!
  • amdforever, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4These planes are surreally real
  • osmans, on 04/23/2008, -1/+2I was reading an article in Popular Science, and apparently one guy built an A-10 Warthog from SCRATCH. It runs and has real turbine engines. He contacted a friend in the military to fly it for him at this competition. KICKASS
    • mikegcallahan, on 04/23/2008, -0/+3All these jets are built from scratch and have turbine engines. The A-10 is nothing special in that regard, except that it's a really cool model. The F-18 in the gallery, as well as the SR-71 and other models, are equally as impressive.
  • BeardedTacoFish, on 04/23/2008, -0/+4Found this one while trolling youtube. Mig 29 essentially 'hovering', pretty sweet.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFypnPK1dPU
  • Malchus89, on 04/23/2008, -1/+4I have this sudden urge to head out there...
    and
    SHOOT EVERY PLANE DOWN!!!

    But seriously...who else has ever seen a RC plane and promptly wanted to shoot it down?
  • elementop, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2Ummmm...not to be contrary, but the A-10 in the second picture (just below the F-4 cockpit) looks a little off. Is it me, or are the shadows on the A-10 on the wrong side when compared with the shadows from the three guys holding it?
    • Virgule, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1huh.. yes indeed but I think its from a second light source. There is bold shadow going toward the left also a light one going to the right.
  • thesoprano, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2Dugg for not playing "Danger Zone" in the video.
  • phenolholic, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2i never fully understood why people attend these events. the only person that remotely is having any fun is the person behind the remote control. and even that gets repetitive flying around in concentric circles after 5 minutes. everyone else just sits and watches these goons fly their planes
  • somnambulator, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I don't want to be a spelling nazi but in the article the word 'participant' was spelled thus: "This year we have 125 partipants,"
    PartyPants had me blowing coffee out of my nose!
  • Cheesburglar, on 04/24/2008, -0/+0I love in the picture section the B-17 bomber crashing, haha
  • Virgule, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1This got more Diggs than "partipants"
  • joeguitargod, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Very Cool! If music wasn't what I spend most of my time on, I'd have to say that this hobby would be! I digg the Sputnik HD Flying Camera.
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