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October 25, 2007 12:12 PM

RC Model Crashes[youtube] B-52, P-51, RC Model crash filmed with an on-board camera, Monoplane crash, Thunderbolt crash, Dogfight and mid-air collision
posted by KokuRyu (16 comments total)

Take it to rcmodelogrish.
posted by DU at 12:26 PM on October 25, 2007

That on-board camera video is pretty cool.
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:39 PM on October 25, 2007

I have mixed feelings about things videos like this. On the one hand you have people who have invested a lot of time and money into their hobby, watching their labors go up in smoke. And that's sad.

In many of these cases, the models are actually fairly complex pieces of technology, (the 8 engined, jet powered, B-52 in the first and second links, for instance). And a lot of energy has been spent making them look and fly like the real thing.

On the other hand, you have planes crashing and no one being hurt. That is a bit of 'Fuck Yeah!'
posted by quin at 12:44 PM on October 25, 2007

Yeah, I forgot the schadenfreude tag.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:00 PM on October 25, 2007

the health of a marriage is in inverse proportion to the complexity and realism of the model airplanes it produces.
posted by klanawa at 1:23 PM on October 25, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

See the remote controller guy in the P-51 crash? The guy just standing there with his arms at his sides, not answering any questions but just staring at the wreckage?

I hate feeling like that.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:23 PM on October 25, 2007

the health of a marriage is in inverse proportion to the complexity and realism of the model airplanes it produces.

Goddamn, but you're correct, sir. I built some awesome balsa-wood-and-tissue-paper rubber-powered planes when I was married to the now-ex. Beautiful things, really, and they are pretty much made to crash-land every time, since there's not much control. Terribly fragile, they were: build, fly, repair/rebuild. Haven't had the urge to do such a thing in, oh, it'll be ten years next summer.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:41 PM on October 25, 2007

When I was a kid, I built a ton of model airplanes.

When I saw that footage of the 52, I was literally saying to myself, "That's sweet ... nice ... ok ... ok ... left a little ... left a little ... left ... left ... oh DUDE you just fucked that up royal!" and then I started laughing.

I know, a lot of time and effort went into these, but if you're going to fly it, you're going to risk stuffing it.
posted by Relay at 1:48 PM on October 25, 2007

Not a crash, but related:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IXQVh5IbHc

Actual turbines! Gotta have one of these with a cockpit-mounted camera to fly it with.
posted by Mikey-San at 2:10 PM on October 25, 2007

My brothers in a RC club and has a few plains. Crashing is just part of the game, they get over it.

And it gives them a chance to build it bigger, better, faster.
posted by Mick at 2:25 PM on October 25, 2007

I've been flying RC for a number of years now (and sadly, never have enough time/good enough weather/clear enough of a field to fly as often as I would like). Watching some of these videos reminded me of my earliest endeavours which never ended well.

Some of these planes are indeed outrageous and phenomenal. That B-52 you see there has been the point of much discussion in the RC universe since its conception and untimely demise a few short months (weeks?) later. It was built by a gentleman in England and was controversial from the start. Apparently, he broke numerous laws due to the sheer size and scale of the plane. After it crashed there was a lot of discussion among the RC world about banning aircraft of that size simply because of the potential damage a crash into an inhabited area could cause. That vehicle was powered by eight (8!!!) turbine engines and carried several gallons of fuel onboard - well enough for a substantial explosion.

Regardless, I love audacious projects like the B-52 and my best wishes to others who work on the hobby. It is lots of work and as a Boeing Engineer recently stated, "We're not as smart as we think we are!"
posted by tgrundke at 4:06 PM on October 25, 2007

If my 10-year old self had seen something like those P 47s in action, my mother would never have heard the end of it. I had no *idea* that RC planes could fly so well - damn that looks cool.
posted by Flashman at 4:28 PM on October 25, 2007

I am inordinately pleased that one of the pilots is called 'Norm'. That seems like a fitting name for a model airplane enthusiast.
posted by StephenF at 5:09 PM on October 25, 2007

From the related videos on YT: SHOT THE RC PLANE WITH BIG GUNS . Are these the mysterious Republicans I hear so much about?
posted by StephenF at 5:15 PM on October 25, 2007

The B-52 has been built and crashed twice now by the same guy. A classic example of someone with a whole lot more money than flying experience or ability.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 8:16 AM on October 26, 2007

By the way, my guess is that the B-52 had to have been a $30,000 investment.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 8:18 AM on October 26, 2007