Control-line model aircraft world speed record

[Aviator111167]

This is and was a huge part of the model aviation hobby.

[AntisolarPoint]

You have to admit, to a lay person, this does look completely and utterly daft!

[flightoftheunknown]

what if that thing broke off and hit someone?

[johnpflyrc]

@flightoftheunknown Extremely unlikely to happen. Everything is built to withstand the forces involved. If you look at the newer version of this video (4vAw1CC4A3g) you'll see a mandatory line tension test performed at about 10 seconds into the video. But everybody there understands and accepts the minimal risk involved. At a more crowded competition site the speed circle would usually be surrounded by a cage for further safety.

[ehelibuff]

@flightoftheunknown They would be dead before they hit the ground....

[stueyk]

why????



[johnpflyrc]

@stueyk Why not? Why do soem people climb mountains? Why do others try to run faster than anyone else? Why do 22 men kick an inflated piece of leather around a muddy field? Probably because they can - because it's a challenge, and because they get pleasure from it.

[stueyk]

@johnpflyrc its all about r/c i dont like being dizzy, i have a wild hare su-26 its gorgeous

[johnpflyrc]

@stueyk I fly r/c too. Apart from one flight about 5 or 6 years ago I haven't flown control-line in over 30 years! I have a CAP232 and an Extra 300S, but I've not flown an SU26 yet. I did see some amazing flying with a full-size SU26 at the Farnborough Airshow when they first appeared there about 20 years ago.

Paul has recently returned from the Control-Line World Championships having finished 5th in F2A (the speed class.) The British team, of which he is a member, took 1st place as a team.

[SPOOKSTR]

As a kid in the 1970's these planes were all the rage...im getting into them now.

[johnpflyrc]

I flew control-line in the 70s too, before moving on to R/C. Have a look also at the updated version (slightly longer and higher resolution) on my youtube channel.

[BadIdeas101]

i bet that guy was dizzy after that

[kennorlander]

I'd be funny if the rope broke

[MONKEYGUY8504]

Holy Cow! That's a prop plane! The pitch about doubled, so the prop was spinning like twice as fast when it got going!

[cray0308]

that was fast!

[Mrx1080]

holy shit!!! I'm just getting into this with a 3 ply plane with a 46 on it that pulls a bit on the lines but that thing must near tear you arm off! what size lines do you use?

[johnpflyrc]

I asked Paul about the lines last week. They're 58feet (about 17.7 metres) long - which is why the record is timed over 9 laps - 9 laps = 1 kilometer.

[sumboyo]

ha that was brill... are tou guys on drugs???(only messing)

[johnpflyrc]

With toys like this, who needs drugs? ;-)

[mikenco]

Just read about control-line flying on BMFA site and speed record attempts. Facinating and dizzying??

[johnpflyrc]

I used to fly C/L years ago (but nothing like as fast as this!) and you very quickly get used to the rotation without getting dizzy.