A-10 Warthog catches fire on takeoff (huge RC model plane)

This huge A-10 Warthog RC model plane suffered not one but two engine fires shortly after takeoff. It was very lucky for the pilot that he managed to get away with this landing -- and more than a little reckless -- since he had to turn the flaming model back towards a gathered crowd of about 80 people to achieve this. Imagine if the RC gear had failed!
There are other videos of this model flying (without the fire) on my channel.
Filmed at the 2011 ANZAC international jet meeting in Tokoroa New Zealand.
Check-out this channel for other exciting Jet and RC videos!

[@thejoshmoss]

what a nice landing he was able to pull off, especially under pressure. looks like it will be able to fly again.

[@shayneoneill1506]

Yeah, she'd probably need work on her jets to get her up again, but you dont give up on a beast like that.

[@candybar415]

@@shayneoneill1506 add fireworks and a airsoft gun onto it and you got a RC fighter jet for RC dogfights

[@WonkyTonkBotty]

I was gonna say 4+ extinguishers is kinda overkill, but then changed my mind when I saw how stubborn that fire was!

[@michaelchapman8291]

WonkyTonkBotty and the guy shouting "GET MORE EXTINGUISHERS!"

[@antoniossfakiotakis5030]

probably using the wrong kind of extinguisher. Foam or Dry powder would have worked better than CO2 in this case

[@mikkel066h]

Antonios Sfakiotakis But the dry powder would destroy the engine.

[@antoniossfakiotakis5030]

mikkel hansen I am no expert but I think that disassebling- cleaning and reassembling would have done the job. Plus there is no way to estimate what's going wrong causing a fire while it is still burning and causing more damage

[@brakza]

Antonios Sfakiotakis Powder actually ruins metal and all electronics. Makes it rust after 6 months if not removed by either a hard air compressor or some chemicals. So foam would work better. Or do as the guy in the end (looks like the owner) to blow from the front and trough the jets.

[@bobboberson2024]

Look at all those GIANT PEOPLE!!

[@urbannpa]

I gotta stop smokin' those spliffs before I fly!

[@thatcarguy6190]

@@urbannpa No... You don't 😉

[@thakrak]

1:58 You just have to love the barefoot firefighter running along the runway...

[@pocketwingman]

Barefoot? I see shoes on him.

[@iiepixz_gamer9908]

Br0 tH3r3 aRe No sHoEs BrO

[@MakoyUnggoy]

That's dedication!

[@belliott538]

Missed that first time round!

[@robstone9109]

Yep, the barefoot guy was the first to dump his retardant on the plane....double duty, fire suppression and FOD check. Barefoot folks usually find the sharp crap first.

[@ArcticAstrophysics]

The guys should have ran there with the fire extinguishers making fire truck noises lol

[@vashon100]

ArcticAstrophysics should have run

[@haydnrowlands8983]

vashon100 ran (past tense): "The dog ran across the road"  ;"she ran the last few yards, breathing heavily". "he hasn't paid for his drinks-run and catch him". What is the point of being a Grammar Nazi if you don't even get your 'correction' right?

[@hlcepeda]

RC fire trucks needed!

[@thatcarguy6190]

@@vashon100 lol you red faced idiot..

[@bellator3691]

Like the Minions: BeeDoo, BeeDoo, BeeDoo.

[@magicstix0r]

Mothstrike... Left engine ingested it...

[@susankeener1701]

+magicstix0r mothstrike! good one....

[@justasoggycookie3783]

sully more like xjeully

[@crunchybro123]

Alan Cogan is right, turtles are going to take over soon

[@noobsaviation5616]

Nah probably a hummingbirdstrike

[@joelt2105]

Sorry for the owner but that looked absolutely cool!!

[@mikewhite4628]

joel trevino Wet starts on the full size require the fuel to be shut off and the engine to be dry cycled before the next start. Looks like the nacelles were full of unburnt fuel!! Tough luck but remember to dry cycle next time if the start is not immediate.

[@ctsteve1967]

CLUE LESS YOU MEAN

[@jimtrack3786]

I know nothing about RC Airplane flying other than I think it very cool. That said I'm glad the A-10 was not badly damaged.

[@pilotemtnils]

SO GLAD you had so little damage, great reaction time and way to stay calm. That is a brilliant looking aircraft, the amount of work shows. Hope to see much more soon!

[@BenoitDusquen]

this is CHEATING ! There should be RC fire engines and playmobil firemen running after that burning aeroplane .... tstststststs

[@jamieshelley6079]

lego animators ain't as fast as they used to be..

[@Mason-uv8vw]

lol

[@rds990]

Hahaha....I love it. Well stated.

[@spot1401]

or at least dress up in a gundam suit and shoot the extinguishers from your fists

[@fperez7504]

So true

[@Lookup2Wakeup]

Great response by the ground crew!!

[@bootlip11]

I absolutely love the team effort here. great salvage. a10 is a survivalist, from a 20 in craft to this to full scale. beast

[@PsychoticBovine]

and that is how it's done. great landing in a very bad situation, response team put out the fire with minimal damage to the model. this should be a AMA training video!

[@nannerpuss9430]

"Lets See that in slow motion" *Shows 5fps video*

[@nannerpuss9430]

Yeah I know, I was only poking fun

[@Mallchad]

I didn't know the A10 had afterburners

[@jamesmaseobrown]

I was in the Air Force when the A10 was commissioned. It was designed to be a robust aircraft. This RC benefited from that design philosophy. It's suppose to fly with one engine and parts of it's wings blown off. It's a beautiful model.

[@ooigfgnnkhjjnc]

Air Power! AEF!

[@UrlocalHEMAduck]

Respect to u

[@microdon2]

Nice emergency landing and an excellent response from the ground crew! Glad they saved that beautiful plane.

[@nzbalsa]

Here is the reason why.... There were no afterburners for a start. Why the long start? Pretty simple, one engine blew a glow plug, so just as easy to use a lighter up the back end, But before you do the engine has to cool down to 90 deg before it will allow another start. Why did both engines blow? Not one of you were close to a guess, Do to the fact both engine systems were separate the best guess is a voltage spike killed the ECU's causing the runaways, Both ecu's were electrically fried when I looked at them. seems they shorted and put full battery voltage to the pumps hence the engines blowing and then not stopping when back on the ground until battery power was cut. I quite like how xjet changed the video description from lucky save and great piloting to calling it reckless and endangering, How would he know? I was flying the model, I had a fair idea of what was going on, I also had full control, no problems as they say.. More like sour grapes for xjet getting kicked off the flying site.

[@xjet]

If you think that turning a burning model back towards a crowd of people gathered in the pits is a safe move then that's fine. Personally, I would put the safety of innocent people ahead of trying to rescue my burning jet -- but that's just me.

[@nzbalsa]

***** Perfectly safe move, flames were out the back not in the model... also no control issues, You do know receivers are in the nose right? and you do know the wire loom was insulated where it runs down the fuse, of course you did, you know everything! you also noted where I parked the model didn't you, away from the people and away from the grass, But then again you do like your drama and conspiracy's don't you. No need to reply with another argument.

[@pinz2022]

***** Seems like a little crash cart practice would be in order. The lack of preparation and rehearsal for emergencies was embarrassingly obvious. Kinda like "The Great Waldo Pepper" except Edward Herrman doesn't get burned to death.

[@DagonNaxos]

+nzbalsa I don't care what anybody says, you got that thing on the ground and put out the flames and everybody walked away in one piece and the RC survived. All in all, a good day. I bet that "Ohhh s**t, fire in #1!" moment went through your head for a second, though.

[@kainhall]

+magicstix0r then how the fuck does it light the fuel? spark plugs are usually WAY THE FUCK BIGGER than a rc glow plug, and a glow plug is one long "spark"...one long ignition most...not all, but most, spark plug CDI systems are large and heavy, and fire a pulse, not a long sustained spark like the glow plug which just needs a battery and a wire.

[@michael4506]

Ahahahaah look at that guy running with sandals and short shorts

[@jeffmullinix7916]

Reminds me of your mother .

[@peterruiz6117]

Great save...But you can't impress the experts. Love the A10 THUNDERBOLT.I think it's awsum, not ugly.

[@RobertCondonSunnyTurtle]

I just wanted to congratulate the pilot on a very nice recovery that could have ended some much worse. And of cause the people on the ground organizing the emergence effort Nice video Bruce sad we don't get any like these anymore but you are still producing World Class Content.

[@urbannpa]

Sh*t....even the A10 models are tough.

[@fligemon]

Nice touch with the D-Day markings ala P-47 Thunderbolt

[@RCP-1136]

makes no sense though... D-day markings on a A-10...

[@bernardw4842]

Ha yes the role of the A-10 at Normanday is little known but here's the proof

[@lesanderson3798]

Fast break

[@gailstan2663]

fligemon oi hi ju h*(o [ar

[@gailstan2663]

Les Anderson

[@Malanthius]

Pilot did a pretty good job of bringing it in hot! ;) Good work from the ground crew.

[@Mumbamumba]

Beautiful model and an impressive emergency landing!

[@jonawesomeness6402]

And just like the real A-10, it takes a major catastrophe and still lands lol.

[@octaviovaladaoferreirinhad2689]

Just like the real ones indeed.

[@user-fj9bv1lo3l]

...losers flag...

[@DM-qm5sc]

You are clearly an idiot. By all means though keep it up with your fake news and revisionist history so democrats never get elected again =)

[@richardwise1886]

Engine placement (like real A10) limited the damage to the engine only. Working engine and control surfaces were unaffected by a catastrophic engine failure..... nice video.

[@johnroscoe2406]

@@planetwalker Fuck of asshole. Keep your "Hurr durr Americans bad durr" bullshit to yourself.

[@rextucker3184]

Your description was so refreshingly honest that I had to watch your video even though I am personally not that interested in model planes. This one is awesome though.

[@tylerbonser7686]

Im thinking 4 more fire extinguishers would have done the trick.

[@DieyoungDiefast]

CO2 may have put the fire out, but for a jet engine fire, foam would have been a better (if messier) option, Why?, Foam has a cooling effect which CO2 doesn't, hence the fire reigniting again and again.

[@tylerbonser7686]

DieyoungDiefast Its not that the foam has a cooling affect its the fact that it doesnt dissipate like CO2 does. The foam keeps the area covered and starved of oxygen.

[@ArizonaGoldHunters]

These small Turbines have very sensitive bearings and parts on them, and even have electronics on the front of the engine with diodes and transistors for the temperature, and RPM sensors. Foam would have worked better for this type of fire, I agree, but CO2 has no damaging effect. on the sensitive electronics. the pilot did the right thing, he killed the turbine power, but I believe the fuel pump was still running. once he killed that, the fire went out. The fire crew, should've kept spraying CO2 to cool the engines below the ignition temperature of the Kero.

[@The_Curious_Cat]

I think at least 10 more should be enough. And buckets of water, lots of water. Then sand.

[@phatkatracing]

2:41, Bootyshorts Floppyhat to the feckin rescue!!

[@dentidens7834]

the pilot did a great job

[@jurex81]

So awesome. Hats off to the pilot. Great job, maestro.

[@johnnycee5179]

My hat is off to the pilot for keeping a cool head to safely land the plane. 👍👍

[@FLIGHTCOMPANY]

Am I the only one dying of laughter watching them put the engine fire out?

[@red_pact.ru.tv.0120]

no

[@NoeticSystem]

I have some firefighting training. What we have here is a class B fire, with a flammable liquid and its vapors. The materials in the aircraft and its engines are above the ignition temp of the fuel. CO2 works by displacing oxygen away from a fire, breaking the chain reaction. However, CO2 is not very good at cooling the material, unlike water. So, when the extinguishing agent disperses, the reaction immediately resumes, because of the residual heat. You can't use water on liquid fuel fires because it just spreads the blaze everywhere. If they used dry chem extinguishers, that'd put the fire out right away and keep it out, but the aircraft would be very difficult to restore with that nasty powder in there. Smothering it with firefighting foam is another option.

[@ryelor123]

Needs Yakity Sax

[@margaretkelly7635]

Mark Batarina no

[@ibeatmybick8066]

Mark Batarina i thought I was the only one

[@iamlegend712]

Nice emergency landing just in time!!!

[@jaspervandieman]

That is one damn fine pilot! A cinder block flies better than a deadstick A-10. Kudos my friend.

[@PDeRop]

Landing a plane like that in an emergency, nobody hit by the plane, plane relatively ok.. respect.

[@solvekbah8921]

Perfect emergency landing :D

[@fluchterschoen]

*EJECT EJECT EJECT!* Has anyone fitted an ejector seat to one of these scale models? I'm off to search that!

[@Focht08]

What's the point in saving $5 puppet over 10K worth plane :) In this hobby every gram matters, less weight = more flight time,, toy pilots are like captains of the ships,, they sink/burn with the plane - to me that is honorable death.

[@fluchterschoen]

bambi You are right - it is a noble death for these little guys. Semper Fi. I salute you.

[@HyperSpify]

bambi Maybe he meant have ejection seats for the engines. That way you only lose the engines, which are like $10k instead of the whole plane, which is like $20k.

[@tcminor]

HyperSpify Only if it makes a good glider with the change in CG LOL

[@JohnS916]

HyperSpify Wow, those engines cost that much? Crap, expensive hobby. But I'm sure the more toned down jet models are more affordable, right? If I got into this I would stick to propeller planes.

[@Yahooblue42]

It's so awesome how it actually uses jet engines!!!!!

[@ChristainYirchott]

What a fast response team

[@PioneerPauly]

No RC fire truck? 😟

[@dieselnation555]

PAULY😮😮😮

[@pauls5745]

wow I never saw an RC catch on fire! this is a real aircraft with hazards to be prepared for I didnt know hahaha

[@sunfish340]

In slow-mo you could hear all the goats in the pasture. Very cool video & great flying. Long live the Warthogs...

[@mortenalbertsen7443]

Great the way he reacted and caught the plane without panicing!

[@skyfix9813]

This is why I always use genuine GE j79s. Oh yea, they cost a little more but...

[@leegenix]

Darn good pilot.

[@elevenrc_fun4547]

great reactions from the peoples around! thats what i call teamwork!!

[@sailsoar]

Great landing!! Tough under pressure. And great help getting the fire out.

[@theblacksheep1000]

LMAO! 2:38. THOSE SHORTS!!!!!!

[@boxhawk5070]

His boxer shorts.....?

[@MakoyUnggoy]

Hahahaha well spotted!

[@Hey_its_Koda]

1980s flash back.

[@dabbingbaby9760]

Who else realized that the voices in slow motion sounded a bit like chewbacca

[@jamesjester5970]

Yeah he was saying, "dammit Hon you've tore up another one "!

[@sargeantjames8471]

this is the most coolist thing i've seen in my whole life

[@ElectronHexagon]

Good job jumping on the situation quick with fire extinguishers. Well done guys.

[@BacchusFA]

OH THE HUMANITY!!!!

[@flutter8712]

VERY NICE EMERGENCY LANDING

[@BIGGBULLxxx]

That looked so cool with the flames coming out the back.

[@willthacker5182]

Guy in the black tee was on it like gangbusters w/that fire extinguisher!

[@EVAUnit4A]

Such a shame that happened to such an apparently well-made model!

[@ZepG]

That's what happens when a flock of mosquitoes gets sucked into the engine, good thing Capt. Sully brought her home safely.

[@guitartec]

He flew it in like a pro. Kudos!

[@harrytuttle5722]

Good on the pilot for keeping his cool during a stressful situation. I've seen others freak out and throw the controller.

[@TheMohawkNinja]

I'd love to see somebody actually make the gun fire airsoft pellets. I know airsoft miniguns exist, but I wonder what it would take to retrofit one into an RC plane like this.

[@DannoAviation]

BrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRT😝

[@andrewnavarro8016]

am I the only one that wants to see a video from a gopro placed in the cockpit?

[@fperez7504]

Andrew Navarro you are not the only one

[@Leoholmes]

Excellent pilot skills in an emergency!! Well done. Textbook landing

[@PhantomMark]

Damn good job for keeping calm and bringing it back home.

[@Stevesmith-yw7cr]

These videos are scary. My brother died the exact same way.

[@bountyqp]

Good

[@BramvanHeijnsbergen]

He died from a rc plane, cool!

[@Stevesmith-yw7cr]

bram van heijnsbergen It was a drone ordered kill from Obama.

[@Stevesmith-yw7cr]

Bounty Bountyqp Yes it is good. He was a total A-hole. Thank you for your support. Did you know him?

[@oinkyaldritz4509]

LOL, no one died this in the video. Remember the video of the RC B-17 crashing that you commented on? No one died there either. Is your "brother" an R/C plane?

[@kampuskop]

I hope the pilot is okay.

[@schumifan78]

AMAZING model, well done

[@rickc.4294]

its like one of those trick re-igniting birthday candles

[@PoppaBlue59]

Where are the RC crash trucks??

[@shindoushuichi0287]

that's what you get for giving it the tail number of 149. I hated that damned jet. ironically because its engines leaked and vibrated out of limits like crazy all the damned timed time.

[@TevinP]

I sense a little animosity...

[@ArnoutDeVos]

this makes me want to know what you do for a livin or at least what your experience is with this number 149, i'm intrigued!

[@shindoushuichi0287]

I was an Engine mechanic in the 23rd Fighter Wing on A-10c's for 6 years. worked on probably 80% of the jets in the entire fleet. and 149 was always a problem jet. its engine vibration recoding system had to be re-wired like 3 or 4 times in the 6 years I worked on it, just because it had just so many ghosts and gremlins in the system. It also never stopped leaking even with new engines on it. somehow even refurbished engines would just leak oil or hydro, for no observable reason. we would swap parts out all the time trying to get it to stop but it just was a freaking drama queen.

[@ianhunt2156]

George D Do you remember the tail number that got hit in 2003 during Iraqi Freedom? I was at Pope from 2000-06. Ammo troop.

[@shindoushuichi0287]

Ian Hunt i heard about it but i joined in 07 so it was before my time. but i want to say it was 660 or 674....

[@ernied349]

@xjet Sorry to see this happen to a nice jet it actually looks like a real situation with jet engine fires and very difficult to put out. look forward to see it fly again

[@456swagger]

Looked like he got hit by a burst of AAA in that turn. Glad the pilot survived.

[@clintymouse]

Where are all the RC fire rescue trucks???? Just saying.....

[@joshschnaithman]

That would have been sweet , little ladders going up with little hoses squirting co2 or whatever . And maybe a little ambulance just for effect.

[@clintymouse]

And a little hot nurse would pop out wearing a short skirt.......

[@tinglydingle]

Precisely how not to use a fire extinguisher.

[@theflashingscotsman]

How would YOU have used it?

[@tinglydingle]

Lester Hartness You keep it on the source of the flames constantly until the extinguisher is exhausted. Using it in little blasts like that allows the fire air, allowing it to continue burning.

[@theflashingscotsman]

Looked to me as if that was what they were doing. They exhausted a number of them.

[@tinglydingle]

Lester Hartness They were doing it in short bursts rather than one continuous one, that allows the fire air rather than smothering it entirely.

[@theflashingscotsman]

You do a short burst, and the fire is out. It RE-IGNITES, and you try again. After a couple of times, you realize what's going on, and you give it all you got. Hey, they saved the airplane. That's more than a lot of people would have done. I've seen people aim an extinguisher at the hood of a car when the engine was on fire.

[@Cimberly5]

That was awesome. I love the A-10's

[@noelmason2305]

Damn fine landing under mental pressure watching your bucks going up in smoke, bravo that man and the team that controlled the fire afterwards. On the outset looked like the fire and subsequent extinguishing of didn’t cause the amount of damage it could have 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@eyesack9330]

nice landing but shut at power to that plane

[@sh0werp0wer]

I love how FOUR people rush with a fire extinguisher, lol

[@jcouellet3600]

there is nothing like proof you are a true enthusiast ;) I donated my previous build to the cadets 40th squadron of Moose Jaw, sponsored by the 15wing, yes I lived there and my son enjoyed the build. Snow birds. Sorry you consider the message to be spam. I call it self promotion. Again I enjoyed your video , thank you.

[@propbraker]

The guy in the flip flops knows how to relax while putting out a fire, he knows what's up. lol

[@matthewalsante6151]

They are so stupid standing so close to the engines they might get sucked in

[@matthewalsante6151]

XboxIssues you do realize im kidding right

[@ColinJamesPoulter]

Matthew Alsante don't think so Lol

[@dominiqueberetta5817]

Nice one.

[@blaze6210]

Matthew Alsante the might be on fire when they get flung out

[@dayvurd65]

well to me this looks like they're using Co2 extinguishers, which in an environment outside like where they are is pretty pointless. there is oxygen everywhere, no wonder they have to ask for more extinguishers. powder or foam extinguishers they should be using on this

[@bri8774]

CO2 is the standard here as it doesn't damage the engine. You shoot dry chem in one and you're pulling it and sending it to the factory for a tear down (with a fat check).

[@bri8774]

***** Halon was banned here a few years back. I remember the training we did with that (USN Aviation). Good stuff but not sure what would happen if you shot a blast of that down an intake.

[@maxjet03]

You keep the fire extinguisher going till it’s empty. This will take the heat out of the triangle needed for a fire. HEAT - FUEL- OXYGEN are needed for fire. Remove one and no fire

[@jadan8434]

Great video great landing

[@ashb4541]

This reminds me of those birthday candles that keep reigniting themselves.

[@johnschwartz6259]

Thank goodness for the dork wearing flip flops bringing a forth extinguisher. Hope he didn't waste a fried turkey leg.

[@grengeg7373]

four firemen to put out a model plane engine!

[@EviLNox8]

Glad things weren't much worse, very cool video to watch.

[@petermachacek8250]

Sick afterburners, look really cool

[@ZzzRoofus]

Can't even fly our RC planes without the North Koreans trying to take em down. wtf

[@TheTb11111111]

LOL! Look at all those guys running over to the toy plane, are they afraid the toy pilot is gonna die?

[@Focht08]

That toy plane cost about 10K $, maybe even more. I would love to see your reaction in situation like this.

[@lucah1824]

Uhhm that "Toy" costed around 10k$ to get just the parts since they made it themselves. So you're saying that you would not react like that if it was a "Toy" no matter what the price and that plane isn't a toy, it's a hoby and an expensive one at that like model train sets.

[@drink15]

You want a huge fire on the runway? The faster you put it out, the easier.

[@zeronightx]

lmfao

[@justinkesner5099]

Why wouldn't you put the fire out? If something belonged to you and caught fire, would you just watch it turn to ash? Seriously, your comment is one of the dumbest things I've ever read. As the these other guys said, this "toy" as you call it is very expensive and this toy also goes extremely fast, their construction requires extreme skill. You're not going to find these at a toy store, which is why they're not toys. The men in the video aren't worried about a "toy pilot" dying. They're worried about protecting a substantial investment. Frankly, I think if someone were worried about the death of a toy pilot, they would have to be on your level of intelligence. In other words, they would have to be dumber than a bar of soap.

[@johncarold]

This is way I won't trust one of those Manned Jet packs that use these motors. Thank's Bruce for the video.

[@awsomenoob26]

That looks awesome! the A-10 is my favorite plane. But sadly it caught on fire...

[@IbizaChris2]

nice landing !!! the plane got some good brakes !!!

[@D0na5in0]

that was actually a great landing!

[@oscarzt1652]

good to see how many fire extinguishers they had there

[@alexkasprzak2621]

the e- landing tho. that's a really good pilot!

[@heavystarch100]

Wow so many experts in one place!

[@AnglerDanNE]

I love the second guy on right hauling out there with fire extinguisher

[@screaminlordbyron7767]

Finally someone figures out to spray foam into the end that sucks stuff in not the one that blows stuff out!

[@SteeIBrigade]

That fire was like "I'm not going down without a fight!"