Gigantic B-17 Flying Fortress Takes Flight

Gigantic B-17 Flying Fortress Takes Flight

When it comes to WW II bombers, the B-17 Flying Fortress is the recognized icon for all heavy bombers This video shows off the giant scale RC “Aluminum Overcast” B-17, piloted by Peter Pfeffer “Peda” Maßstab. The 1/5.6-scale Flying Fortress has a 19 foot wingspan, is 14 feet long and took four years to build.

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Gigantic B-17 Flying Fortress Takes Flight

Over 41 inches tall at the top of the vertical fin, the impressive bomber is built using traditional balsa and plywood construction techniques, has scale retractable landing gear and flaps and weighs in at 187 pounds. Powered by four 42cc gas engines, the radio gear is from Weatronic.

Video courtesy of RC Scale Aircraft.

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Gigantic B-17 Flying Fortress Takes Flight

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Gigantic B-17 Flying Fortress Takes Flight

 

Updated: January 30, 2020 — 8:48 AM

8 Comments

  1. As a typical low budget modeler, I’m tired of reading about 19ft bombers, expensive turbine jets and arfs that cost $500+ dollars. Those of us who don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a model are longing for articles on mid sized, inexpensive traditional built models in the 45-60 size engine range. Young people who would like to get into the hobby are ,I’m convinced, discouraged by the barrage of Big Expensive models that they must think is “the norm” for our hobby. And the satisfaction of building one’s own model has become a thing of the past. It’s called engineering. We need to get kids involved again in engineering and aviation. Let’s bring it back by showing them what fun it is to build and fly your own model airplane. Thank you.

    1. Great comment, but don’t forget “kids of all ages.”

    2. FIRST IT’S LOOKS GOOD!!!
      second; I agree that we need to get the kid”s back into something like this! I also build to scale, I have built a 8′ F-8 crusader and also a A-6 Intruder.
      Ed Hazlett
      navyflyguy@comcast.net

    3. Nicly stated. I was thinking the same thing. While these super models are interesting and impressive, I too would like something more down to earth. Perhaps using recycled materials like all those coroplast signs that still remain along the roadside long after the event has passed. In other words… CHEAP! I have been in the hobby over 50 years and have never lived close enough to a field that I could fly a turbine or a 19 foot model… let alone afford one.

  2. Beautiful scale model! Outstanding!

  3. I am a beleiver in building planes from plans. It has great satisfaction in knowing you put it together from a plan , to the point of first flight status, If the youth does not pick this up we are destined for doom , because every youth will think you can just go out there and buy what ever you want…is there any pride in that?…come on youth and especially adults ,lets get out there and take a young person under your wing and teach them to build,in Canada we have 6 months of the year to do this it is awsome, to build, and come spring devote that time to flying, you never get bored this way………….thanks Ron Lesyk from Canada…..

  4. Thank you Tommy,
    I wholeheartedly agree with your admonition against excluding the young and less than wealthy from a very rewarding hobby.
    While there are supplies available for a beginning hobbyist these are difficult for a beginner to locate and access. There is little to no instruction or guidance anywhere, even on the internet.
    I was a builder and control line flier as a youth and after my retirement i found it difficult to get back into it for lack of supplies and information. Materials i was familiar with are no longer available suppliers (internet only) have largely gone away. The best publications come form the UK and are expensive. And even they don’t offer much of the basics.
    It is a losers lament.
    Thanks again.

  5. Couldn’t be said better. Today’s modeler doesn’t know what he is missing in not building and flying.

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