50% SCALE RC De HAVILAND DH.88 COMET "GROSVENOR HOUSE" - TWIN ZENOAH 74cc - LMA COSFORD # 3 - 2022

(PART THREE OF THREE)
STEVE HOLLAND BUILT THIS STUNNING HALF SCALE RC MODEL 23 YRS AGO (CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SHOCK TO THE RC WORLD WHEN SHE FIRST FLEW)
SHE IS POWERED BY TWO 74cc ZENOAH PETROL ENGINES !
THE REAL AIRCRAFT SHE IS MODELED ON IS PRESERVED IN A MUSEUM AT THE SHUTTLEWORTH COLLECTION HERE IN THE UK AND STILL FLIES AT REGULAR DISPLAYS FOR THE PAYING PUBLIC !
INFO FROM STEVE,
First flown in 1999 after a three year build, I didn’t concentrate on it full time due to work commitments.
It’s flown around 800 flights in its 20 years. I put it aside 7 years ago after a full size display at Kemble and got it back out for the Nationals. I had to replace the batteries, one throttle servo and a choke servo.
Some of the paintwork was blown over, it still needs a complete respirated which isn’t worth doing until the minor wing skin issues on the wing fairings are rectified. I flew it at home before bringing it too the Nationals just so I could be current on it again.
It weighs around 140 pounds and is half scale at 22feet span. The model still is quite old school radio wise with for receivers each with their own power supply and a separate battery powering the flaps. When it was first flown it was on 35 MHz with a Futaba 9Zap radio system. It’s now using Futaba 2.4 MHz .
It’s interesting to note that the original Futaba 3303 quarter scale servos are still fitted. Some of the younger pilots couldn’t believe the size and relatively low power compared to modern servos. The retract system is home made using commercial Phesto air rams onto a welded steel frame work which folds pulling up the main legs. The main legs were made by an old friend and wonderful engineer Alan Dew from Ford Escort shock absorbers he found lying around.
REAL AIRCRAFT INFO -
The de Havilland DH.88 Comet is a British two-seat, twin-engined aircraft built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was developed specifically to participate in the 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race from the United Kingdom to Australia.
Three Comets were produced for the race, all for private owners at the discounted price of £5,000 per aircraft. The aircraft underwent a rapid development cycle, performing its maiden flight only six weeks prior to the race. Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House emerged as the winner. Two further examples were later built. The Comet went on to establish a multitude of aviation records, both during the race and in its aftermath, as well as participating in further races. Several examples were bought and evaluated by national governments, typically as mail planes. Two Comets, G-ACSS and G-ACSP, survived into preservation, while a number of full-scale replicas have also been constructed.
Top speed: 382 km/h
Range: 4,710 km
Cruise speed: 354 km/h
Unit cost: £5,000 GBP (1934)
Engine type: de Havilland Gipsy Six
Number built: 5
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FILMED AT AN RC MODEL AIRCRAFT SHOW RUN BY THE LMA ( LARGE MODEL ASSOCIATION ) AT RAF COSFORD - SHIFNAL WOLVERHAMPTON - SHROPSHIRE / STAFFORDSHIRE - TF11 8UP IN THE UK OVER THE WEEKEND OF 2-3 JULY - 2022

[@brianartillery]

One of the most elegant and beautiful aircraft ever designed. De Havilland really were at the top of their game. Awesome replica too. Nice one.

[@tbobborap1]

cheers brian - Couldn't agree more !

[@huto9606]

The landing was so perfect - TOP!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks huto

[@I_am_archie]

Thats one badass airplane!

[@tbobborap1]

cheers bret

[@peterbonnez]

Wonderful

[@tbobborap1]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@anamerican481]

That is one Cool airplane nice flying to

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@geoff1714]

Now that's how to make a beautiful landing. 😍

[@jacobgreenspan697]

Seen this fly at Much Marcle several years back. Amazing model!🙂

[@raybame5816]

What an extraordinary model. As a long time rc hobbyist, I could not imagine the effort to make this back in the day. The neatest thing is the history of aviation it prompts open to recollection especially here in the US.

[@tbobborap1]

thanks ray

[@mgliestal6111]

Wow, still in flying! Greetings from Liestal, Marcel

[@tbobborap1]

thank you MG - hi from the uk

[@reneegudjon3204]

Those were beautiful aircraft. What a great model!

[@tbobborap1]

Many thanks!

[@panemetcircenses510]

The Comet is a timeless design. What gorgeous airplane.

[@v6pulsar]

One of the best looking and most realistic flying models I have ever seen in the air.

[@tbobborap1]

thanks v6

[@453421abcdefg12345]

A really wonderful display! and the landing could not have been better, the bonus of a large model, very many thanks for posting this one, Chris B.

[@tbobborap1]

cheers chris

[@markg55]

Brings back memories of seeing this graceful silhouette in the skies over the much-missed Woodvale show. Beautiful plane.

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@petercane6376]

Gob smacked!!!!!! Wow!!!!!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks pete

[@malcolmsmith650]

And a nice scale take off speed, beautiful!

[@tbobborap1]

Many thanks!

[@reneegudjon3204]

Perfect flare out!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@ronstewart9792]

What an awesome aircraft.

[@chuckcawthon3370]

Absolutely incredible.

[@tbobborap1]

thanks chuck

[@design2survive]

Incredible!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@malcolmcarter1726]

Wow! What a beautiful rendition of one of the most attractive aircraft to ever grace our skies. And boy is it BIG! Terrific flying. You have obviously been flying (& scale building!) for a few years.

[@tbobborap1]

thanks malcolm, all info in video description

[@mariosouto2668]

I think I prefer DJI drones because I have no motor coordination, I am unable to understand and run a non-electric motor, I would never be able to fly something without numerous stability sensors, I love the noise of a dental office and the design of spiders.

[@ronniemann2308]

Really nice build and flight

[@tbobborap1]

thanks ronnie

[@enedenedubedene4811]

Das ist doch ein maßstabsgetreuer Nachbau. Was hat der Pilot im Original gesehen? So gut wie nichts.👍👍👍👍😀😀😀 Viele Grüße aus Germany

[@tbobborap1]

vielen dank endene

[@scorp9438]

very nice , well done .

[@tbobborap1]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ulrichmachtle4864]

gorgeous plane, looks in flight from the front (or back) almost like a ME 262

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@remicallant8756]

Very nice flight and build, congratulations, greetings from Remi from Belgium

[@tbobborap1]

thanks remi Glad you enjoyed it

[@scotthaddad563]

It is a beautiful plane!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks scott

[@randall1959]

You can tell he's got a lot of time flying that plane.

[@tbobborap1]

25 yrs - on and off

[@mikekersey2792]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe only four of these were ever built. Absolutely stunning model.

[@tbobborap1]

possibly, there is one still flying regularly at old warden museum in the uk,

[@shannonDRAGRACEING]

Absolutely grease that landing spectacular

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@rouflatheef5674]

Nice video

[@tbobborap1]

Thanks rouf

[@driesanalog4187]

WHAT ??? !!!! 👍👍👍

[@florivaldopereirajunior5389]

lindo modelo, parabéns!!!!!

[@tbobborap1]

muito obrigado júnior

[@m0peds]

Everyone saying get some scale propellers on her, those inline 6 cylinder engines sound awesome

[@tbobborap1]

lol - exactly moped, they have no idea what they are talking about !

[@McGyver0479]

Eccellente!

[@tbobborap1]

thanks

[@pereldh5741]

Fantastic! But why doesn’t he just sit in it, flying it himself?

[@chrisb3989]

Those props look like an accident waiting to happen…..but what a stunning model…..bravo to the builder.

[@tbobborap1]

cheers hris, not one accident with those props in over 25 yrs !

[@benchamp6793]

Посадка 10++

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

I've always thought that this was the most beautiful plane ever designed. The ugliest? It has to be the Stipa Caproni, although the SC was the more valuable in knowledge gained.

[@kurtm7379]

That's crazy! But crazy in a good way, and a perfectly lovely landing (it pays to be easy on those rare but just-the-thing Ford Escort shocks, right). PS: When are you going to post some 'Great Landings' and/or Crash compilations again?

[@tbobborap1]

cheers kurt, hopefully in the next few weeks

[@mischef18]

Almost big enough to take passengers bro, the pilot looked a bit of a worry though so maybe not. Cool RC plane anyway. Safe travels

[@tbobborap1]

lol - cheers ken

[@nigel900]

Magnificent airplane, magnificent model… it’s a shame they can’t seem to source scale props.

[@tbobborap1]

they can source scale props but the motors do not produce enough power to turn them !

[@nigel900]

@@tbobborap1 Light material, less pitch, greater diameter… Great video just the same.

[@tbobborap1]

like i said they are fine and dont need changing !

[@nigel900]

@@tbobborap1 I heard what you said. 👍🏻

[@blakjack3053]

Holy mackerel! 😬

[@tbobborap1]

lol - big girl

[@blakjack3053]

@@tbobborap1 indeed sir lol!

[@ericstoll6367]

Tres belle machine, qui mériterait des moteurs plus puissants. Cordialement

[@tbobborap1]

il a eu ces moteurs pendant 25 ans et n'a pas besoin de plus gros moteurs eric

[@SC-mh5ix]

The props look very small !

[@tbobborap1]

perfectly fine for over 25 yrs

[@gabrielmorales9752]

140 lbs...and "only" twin 74cc s ! Folks today would do no less than twin 3W-342, fearing it wouldn't fly. Hahaha

[@tbobborap1]

well said gabriel

[@scotthaddad563]

Those engines are really taching out! That plane seems underpowered or under sized props.

[@tbobborap1]

been flying for nearly 23 yrs scott, nothing wrong with the props or engines 👍

[@jaseegee9293]

@@tbobborap1 I'll second that pete! This model has been on the show circuit for many years and still never fails to impress !😃👍

[@tbobborap1]

i agree jasee

[@phillipzx3754]

Seems a shame using 2-stroke engines.

[@tbobborap1]

unfortunately four strokes are very expensive

[@a3denclaggett254]

second

[@tbobborap1]

did you like the video aden ?

[@a3denclaggett254]

@@tbobborap1 Yes, i love your videos!

[@tbobborap1]

many thanks

[@drpando]

All that money and time spent - beautiful. BUT - those engines constantly being out of sync.... sheesh.. just a little tweak on the needle of just one engine would make music.

[@tbobborap1]

been flying fine for 25 yrs bass, i wouldnt worry too much about the engine sync !

[@drpando]

So, in 25 years of flying, you still haven’t learned to tweak the needles and adjust the servo throws so that you get synchronized throttle response?

[@cloudstreets1396]

Just a wee bit underpowered.

[@tbobborap1]

no its not - its been flying fine for over 25 yrs on the same engines

[@cloudstreets1396]

@@tbobborap1 I didn’t say the engines were unreliable. I said the model is underpowered.

[@turkey0165]

RC waste of time, build a 1/3 and get in it and fly it yourself!