C VEICH wrote:
It's amazing just how quickly ducted fans vanished from the scene once the miniature turbines hit the shelves. I'm an active scale r/c modeler and I have not seen an internal combustion ducted fan powered model at the flying field or an event in at least 10 years.
I've been and R/C flyer (planks and helo's) for 25 years, although not currently active. I haven't seen a ducted fan in years either. Even though they're expensive, jet turbines are in everything now. I've seen turbo props and turbine helicopters.
The 747 video is from 1994 and uses standard R/C piston engines with ducted fans on them. Here's a B-52 with 8 real jet turbines. Unfortunately it was destroyed.
Video of maiden flight that gives you an idea of scale,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbITzCI2AU0Video of the crash,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68WZ6PgsBhM