World's Biggest RC scale model turbine helicopter EC-135 adac
 

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WF8zqG6xR90&feature=youtu.be[/ame]

Ivan.......That is a beautiful model helicopter. We think our hobby is expensive but I imagine something on that level gets very expensive quickly. Then there is the danger of failure in flight and losing it all.




[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NciePa8sY_U[/ame]

Very cool. Amazing how well engineered it is. I like the added touch of the lifelike pilot.

I admire the craftsmanship and effort, but I have to say that it reminds me why I fly a Huey in DCS, NOT as an RC model.

Too cool!

I have to ask where it gets its lift from? Weird to watch a 'copter fly with its propellers barely moving.

Craig... you wouldn't want to get in the way of those main rotors that appear not to be moving. ;)

That's a camera effect. The helicopter, full scale or model, generates lift from the blade tips. They are actually spinning at least 1200 rpms for a scale model like that and up to 3500 rpms for the 3D stunt helis that are more popular today. Which puts the blade "tips" at travelling very fast, to the tune of between 200 to over 300 mph, depending on the rotor speed. As the diameter increases, or the speed of the main rotor, so does the blade "tip speed". Multi blade helicopters require less main rotor rpm's since there are more blades and full scale helicopters have very "large" diameter blades, so at much lower rpm than models, the blade tips are still traveling very fast.

While I used to fly model helicopters myself and was doing some mild 3D stunts at the time, I never felt easy about a flying "lawn mower" that can take someone's head clean off if even a momentary lapse of judgement or mechanical failure occurs and crashes and failures do happen quite often. I gave up flying 3D but still enjoy flying more "scale like" and with some mild, sport maneuvers thrown in for fun.

Today's typical 3D stunt heli. Requires immense concentration, skill level and reaction time.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3mAc6RYAMo[/ame]

Dan, it sure does get expensive to crash them. :D A few years back at the annual Warbirds over Delaware, a very large scale B29 crashed into a storage tent. I was sitting only 2 tents over with a friend when it happened, scary moment indeed. In fact I ran right over to the scene of the crash to make sure no one got hurt and that is me in the video, well, my back at least, I'm the guy in the grey T-shirt blocking the camera. :D

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrBl3eDxgH4[/ame]