Extra 260 (56k warning, maybe?)

I was out at our local RC flying field and was a bit lucky to have my camera with me, as one of our pilots had his IMAC plane out for a run or two. The pilot is George Hicks and he is flying a 43% Extra 260 powered by a 150CC gasoline engine.

Nice shots.
I didn't know the planes were that big.
Looks like fun.

Thank you, the official size restriction is 55lbs I belive (or something like it), and this was around 40, I have flown a 35% (not mine), but only own a few "smaller" ones.

Unfortuantly he decided to hover at the far end of the field, so I could not get the shot I wanted. But it was safety thing, as a plane that large with a carbon fiber prop, with 3 one foot long blades would severly hurt anyone it hit.

I would be so affraid to fly one of those. I did this only once, and crashed the plane on it maiden flight. Decided the hobby wasn't for me. I am very impressed with the size of this one though. When I lived in Washington State, at Marymore Park in Bellevue they had an RC airport where we would go watch them fly planes... but none were this size. Very impressive. Cheers.

beautiful sharp shots of it especially in #1 and #2

I saw a couple flying one out on the plains last evening
it soared up and up and up but then suddenly crashed to the ground

I think it must have got badly damaged as the last I saw (at a distance )
the two people were picking up the pieces
am not too sure

but I never saw them or it (flying) again and I can see for some distance out there. no trees or anything blocking the view

the plane was as big as I have seen.. of that type

Thanks for the comments

The first two shots were able to be taken a bit closer than the 'hover' shots, thats why they probably turned out better. I am really starting to dislike the long end of my Sigma 70-300, but it comes in handy sometimes.

sadly, I have seen many aircraft go down or into trees, either due to equipment failure or simply pilot error (more of the latter). Fortunately I have not yet totaled one of my planes, though one has 'landed' in a tree...

anyone know about that B52 bomber they made? with 8 little jet engines... that was huge! I wouldn't want to control that... almost like buying a used car (or crashing one).

You mean the one that crashed? Those eight engines cost just over $17,000 (all together), plus the cost of the airframe and electronics, meaning that the total cost was probably well over $25,000. Apparently in crashed due to an issue with pilot disorientation, the pilot moved the ailerons in the wrong direction- something that frequently happens to all models- but it is hard to recover such a large plane- so it crashed.


http://www.aviationexp​lorer.com …ol_USAF_B-52_RC_movie.htm

http://www.chairforce.​com …c/pages/b52-crashburn.htm

i wish i had hte link to the r/c mode of a B-52 that some guy built. It was incredible to hear those jets roar to life for such a small thing.

I used to be into rc planes, but they were no where near that size.

Some pretty good shots And I'd be scared as hell to hover a plane that costs that much, one wrong move and your bank account will be hating you.

http://www.aviationexp​lorer.com/remo...2_RC_​movie.htm

http://www.chairforce.​com/easy-chair...-crashburn.htm

I used to be into rc planes, but they were no where near that size.

Some pretty good shots And I'd be scared as hell to hover a plane that costs that much, one wrong move and your bank account will be hating you.

Exactly right - thats why everyone else just watches George do this- the only other person with planes this size avoids this type of flying, and I only do the 3D stuff 'a few mistakes high

Very cool!

Almost big enough to ride?

There was a small kid there, and he looked like he wanted to hop in. The engine produces 80lbs of thrust and he would have probably fit under the canopy (the top of the front half of the plane lifts off), if the control system electronics were not in the way- and its best not to sit on those...

I will never understand why somebody would spend several grand..aka..$25k on an RC aircraft when they could buy a real airplane for that. (piper, cessna) Not knocking the hobby, it looks fun..just not at that price.

For one thing, this level, and these planes, are rather rare. These are truly professional level competitions and people make a living off this- one of the larger competitions, the Tuscan Aerobatic Shootout, has a $80,000 prize and the planes only cost about 8,000, not to mention payed sponsors and the fact that most of the pilots at this level (including George) design planes for the companies (though his "real" job is with Gulfstream).
As for the reasons, I guess its the same reason for some people buying DSLRS when P&S are fine for most people- we know the difference, and these planes perform manuvers that are likely to kill a human pilot in the plane- from g-forces alone.