Bombs Away.

Ever since I was was in 4th grade, watching the older kids in our suburban grade school fly control line model planes, like this one, right, before class, I’ve possessed a soft spot for the sport of flying scale fueled aircraft. I’ve never had the money or the spare time to commit and truly learn, not to mention master, the art, but I’ve always thought, and think, I might, one day, hunker down and do so.

Imagine my surprise, though, when, peeking into the field several years later, I learned of the astounding levels to which skilled would-be flight jocks and plane builders had taken this pastime. See that B-52 in video still, above? Most people, upon spying the image, would conclude some lucky fan had squeezed off a shot of the U.S. Air Force’s workhorse, off on another mission.

In fact, though, what they’d be actually looking at is this, above: A giant-scale RC, or radio control, airplane. According to the web site where the picture originally appeared, what you’re looking at has a 22-foot wingspan, weighs around 265 pounds when fueled, and its eight turbine engines cost approximately $2,000 each.

This Giant Scale RC Airplane has a 22 foot wings span and weights around 265lbs when fueled! The 8 turbine engines cost a couple grand a piece!

Indeed, the appearance of the craft is so grand and convincing that, at the end of the YouTube, below, when the plane does something wholly unexpected, it draws screams—which you hear—of genuine horror…even though it’s just a model plane. Enjoy.