The world of remote-controlled vehicles is amazing, far more than most people realize. Sure, a little battery-powered gravel flinger is great fun, but the obsession of detail for some of these builders is beyond insanity. We’ve seen large-scale replicas of military aircraft that have just about every system of the real one functional. We’ve seen replica semi trucks, earth moving equipment and the like and you could swear that you were smelling the raw diesel fuel. But this…this bright pink aircraft that bears a slight resemblance to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird’s basic shape might be the most radical. It’s no replica, but trust us, that doesn’t matter an ounce here. What you are looking at is the current fastest remote-controlled aircraft on the planet. In the hands of pilot Niels Herbrich, this sixteen pound jet screams along to the tune of 462 MPH. It runs a Behotec 180 turbine and uses kerosene for fuel.
In the fly-bys, we don’t even know if it’s at it’s Vmax speed or not, but does it matter? A slow prop remote-controlled aircraft takes talent and a pilot’s knowledge to fly properly. Now, imagine that you’re a jet pilot, but you can’t see the jet except for a blink of the eye…probably explains the blinding bright pink coloration, allowing the craft to stand out against the sky no matter the weather. The question that many have: how can Herbrich manage to properly fly something that fast when he’s on the ground?!
My German is a bit rusty, but it sounds like they were timing it during those runs and clocked it at 426 mph in the video.
Judging by the condition the plane is in at the start, it looks like it may have had a few landings go awry while the pilot was learning to fly it.
Also has a look of some of NASA’s lifting bodies.
Control it, I am a amazed he can see it!
well… that’s… just… frightening…
Now put some wheels on it, clip the wings, and bring it to Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats!