Hempel 60 Percent Extra 260 Giant Scale

If you're familiar with AMA rules you know that any model aircraft weighing over 55 pounds requires an exception to "legally" fly on an AMA certified field. To get this exception, you have to complete two certification flights with a designated inspector. This is the story of one pilot going through the process with his Giant Scale (60%) Bill Hempel ARF.

[@fh64lucky]

Back when I was stationed at Tucson, A-10 jet mech in AF, I met Bill, he taught me how to fly RC planes….Good times!!👍

[@garretpickens5745]

Always hear his name out at the field in Tucson.

[@fh64lucky]

@@garretpickens5745 was back in mid 80s …….. long time ago!

[@joesphblas6394]

Wow that was amazing to watch! Love to watch these giant scale planes! As for the engine noise that some are complaining about here, I say just let her rip, it sounded great! Oh and that flying field, just as amazing as that plane, have fun folks, this is what this hobby is all about!

[@ThrunRC]

Wow what a huge model , very impressive. Great Video :-)

[@marceloandriolo819]

Great plane, the sound is amazing, thanks for share

[@eoinj3929]

Wow! This manages to combine all the disadvantages of both full size and rc models without any advantages of either. Unique

[@lehshoot]

Yeah, I guess if you feel the need to justify such an extravagance, you're probably correct. Personally, I can't afford such things, but even if I could, I don't have the nerve it takes to fly one. On the other hand, being in the presence of such a beast was a real privilege. The sound! The smell! The excitement! Love it.

[@lukasd4575]

Beautiful plane! 3 years ago when i was 18 i bought my first big plane from my first loans, A Katana S from Pichler 2.7meters. I was already shaking flying this ting for the first time and i couldnt imagine how it must be flying this one, crazy, much love from germany!

[@lehshoot]

Thanks Luka! Billy was in fact a bit nervous, but the thrill is well worth it.

[@bdogjr7779]

Awesome👍《☆》That 4 cylinder 2 stroke sounds great🖖😎☮

[@SadShane]

If that was my plane I would have multiple cameras mounted on it for POV flying with goggles & on screen display info of flight parameters. I would also have GPS & autopilot for longer distance flights. As much money as it costs, i would also consider an emergency parachute. Let's be honest, I wouldn't even fly it because my hair would be falling out every single second that it's in the air. Thanks so much for filming the event in a way that makes me feel like I was there too!

[@DonStegall]

Like the parachute idea. I'm preparing to build a huge Quickie Q200. Going to check on ballistic parachutes for ultralights.

[@SadShane]

@@DonStegallCool, I hope that you will record video throughout your building process, 1st flights, etc!

[@DonStegall]

​@@SadShane I will be .. the current plan is to build a true 50% or larger model with a Scorpion SII-6530-180KV for power. I already have one that I got to use on a 125" PC-6 ARF that I've decided to turn into plugs to make molds for a molded composite version .. I have a Castle Creations Phoenix Edge HVF 160 Amp ESC with Fan and multiple sets of 6S1P batteries from 5000-5300 mAh .. I will go larger than 50% if reasonable .. and ultimately I want to build a full size .. I'm getting ready to fly a Q200 in MS FS202 right now and going Live on Facebook.. I'll record the flight and post it to my personal channel tied to this ID .. when I put the propulsion system together for testing I'll post that and some of the test .. thanks for the comment.

[@truckerray7533]

How much do ya supposed is invested in this 1/2 scaler??? Dang that R/C bird is huge!!! How bout the weight of it???

[@SadShane]

@@truckerray7533 I would love to know too. Since the tiny electric planes I want costs $500+ then I can't imagine how much he has spent. Especially since you have to have an enclosed trailer to tow the plane. I could never enjoy flying that gorgeous plane because I would be terrified of crashing it. Not to mention that if you crashed it into someone's car or house that it would probably destroy them or kill someone.

[@emanuelmota7217]

Beautiful Extra and very nice engine. For such a BIG plane that thing moves very nicely. But am wondering if the engine might still be a bit under-propped. Maybe go back to a CF prop to gain some efficiency?

[@abundantharmony]

Rich good ol' boys have the BEST time. I had to come back to see if I heard that correctly. He said a 420cc engine TWO STROKE! That thing could fly children. Imagine that motor in a bike or scooter. 420cc TWO STROKE. That must be insane power.

[@operaswift8623]

This is the most beautiful flying field ive ever seen. Wow

[@lehshoot]

. . . and the photography does not do it justice!

[@jacksonrcaviation]

Nice indeed my friend, real nice plane

[@free-birdrocker8809]

Love the exhaust note, nice and loud! Thats one large and purty looking bird. Any larger and you will need a pilot license to fly it. Good one bubba!🤠

[@jj4791]

The Quickie Q1 aircraft is similar in size, about 4x heavier when loaded. Has less horsepower also, 18-22hp vs this mentioned 32-35hp.

[@thatairplaneguy]

So the camera man think “3D” is an aileron roll????

[@KevinTalbotTV]

It’s only a toy plane don’t worry about it

[@koreanature]

Wow, Beautiful Upload friend. keep it up. Thank you for sharing this to us. Greetings from Korea

[@lehshoot]

Thanks buddy! I've spent a lot of time in your beautiful country and appreciate the friendships I made over there.

[@oxfordlocalsclassifiedads-6969]

Really nice mate

[@supercubflyersrcs]

Seeing a giant version of my little 88 inch 330sc in the same scheme is quite a cool thing, it's giant (yeah i know thats a 260 not a 330sc but the scheme is what makes it cool to me)

[@elcotorro]

Buen video, mucho ruido! Hasta acá se oye !

[@JeffinTD]

Great sounding engine. For me, though, the optimal band in the fun to fly vs cost & hassle curve is probably the 30cc to 120cc range.

[@worachart111]

Wow nice big 3D plane and flying

[@simonjandrell5897]

incredible

[@derekblake9385]

What a beautiful flying field, one thing we don’t have in the UK so pointless buying RC

[@paulleadbeater9990]

too true :(

[@lehshoot]

You guys simply lack the space that we have here, and your population density makes such things impractical. I hope that doesn't keep you out of the hobby though. There are plenty of R/C "Micros" available that are suitable for flying almost anywhere!

[@florivaldopereirajunior5389]

lindo modelo.....parabéns!!!!!

[@goodcopbadcop9872]

This is really cool to see, thanks for sharing. Although, I hope you got the OK from the pilot to be asking all the questions! Probably never a good idea to be chit-chatting with someone while they are hand flipping a 60%'er, let alone during a cert flight. Was anyone else freaked out that the pilot has to reach under the prop from the front (putting his head right in line with the prop) to turn off the choke? This is especially dangerous after 'popping' the motor as the motor might try to start or backfire.

[@bodieb.1239]

Just perfect and great flying. Awesome. Thank you !

[@TheSpark878]

He did a couple rolls and didn't crash... Pretty far from "great" flying

[@N74DV]

camera guy is a one man peanut gallery

[@mrvoyagerm]

Nothing like trying to get ready to fly with someone standing right there asking you all kinds of ??????? questions.

[@Gmackrcplanes]

haha

[@TheSpark878]

Pretty obvious the pilot is little more than a circle flyer... May as well have a chat while doing such "exciting" maneuvers

[@jeffs7915]

This is near Hickory NC and Maiden NC, my daughter lives in Maiden, on my recent visit to NC tried to visit on a beautiful Sunday at 11am no one was there, I was disappointed.

[@lehshoot]

Hi Jeffs. I think the key here is that on Sundays in this part of the country, many folks are attending church services in the mornings. I would guess that things might get busier at RAMS field on Sunday afternoons, but in all honesty, I don't know that for certain. Next time you might want to check with their website and get info about contacting a club officer to gain admittance?

[@foxkill7]

Lucky that fence is there to protect the pilots!☺️😊☺️🤓🤓

[@Rantanplan-0815]

What is the price of this beautiful piece of art?🎉

[@lcpeterbilt379]

those dudes are real chill.. a 60% shows up normally everyone is checking it out.. them old guys just shooting the breeze like its a .65 high wing trainer.

[@lehshoot]

That particular model airfield attracts more than their share of giant scale planes. They are indeed "chill".

[@douglasyoung1955]

Hempels ARFs tend to shed covering!

[@ChunkyC_RC]

I've been wanting to visit that field. I live in Winston

[@lehshoot]

Please do visit. The field is incredible, and they host various events during the year. Nice bunch of guys too.

[@justincase3565]

Same, I'm in Greensboro

[@joeys5429]

Yeah I used rubber o rings on cowl screw which I thought was innovative

[@ericgriffin397]

I like that bird Billy!!

[@joeys5429]

Didn’t see smoke maybe a bit lean and I think it could take off from taxi as I used to beautiful what are the rates ?

[@craigblankenship490]

Very beautiful plane. I just had two things to add. One you definitely need to add some expo. It would definitely smooth out your flying and especially your landings. Second, the guy filming should not be asking all those questions when he’s starting that plane and especially when he’s flying and trying to get his cert’s. Again a beautiful plane though.

[@lehshoot]

I'm "the guy filming". I find it interesting that you (and some others) have expressed concern about me distracting the pilot with "all those questions" while he's getting the model ready for flight. Rest assured that I asked all those questions already knowing the answers, because I had already asked them of the owner/pilot in his truck while on our way to the field. I was invited to film this as a favor to him and others to let them know what large scale flying was like, as well as to illustrate the final process of getting such a beast certified.

[@guitarflyer172]

Surprised that gear didn't snap as quick as you turned it when you landed!

[@nhickcox02]

If I build an r/c plane big enough that I can ride in do I need a pilots license?

[@kevbeer1]

something was rattling there? cowl LE?

[@johncarold]

Man this one makes my 1/3 scale look like a 1/2a LOL Beautiful looking plane

[@luizvalladao1343]

Parabéns 👏👏👏👏

[@Dzordzikk]

Hey man, this is big 4cylinder 2stroke engine and for this engine you need to add poer very slightly to get it into right temperature, it takes about 1 minute or so. Why you add near full power right after you run engine? You will damage your expensive engine by running this style. Is this engine by ZDZ from Czech Republic or some different brand?

[@lehshoot]

You're confused by the editing. I am only showing some of the engine start and run sequences. The pilot owns and operates a custom hot rod shop and is quite familiar with engines of all types.

[@Dzordzikk]

@@lehshoot OK, can be.

[@jamesvelvet3612]

7:55 for takeoff

[@Flapswgm]

Sounds cool but also dangerous. When flying, it sounds like it has a serious engine vibration problem. If so, that will be very hard on the gear. Hope I'm wrong.

[@tylerpalmer8973]

Sounds normal to me. Just a touch rich under full throttle. Likely still breaking it in, though.

[@kerbygator]

Them planes always have vibration going on. Usually the cowl or something. No biggie. He knows what it should sound like and when something isn't right .

[@superskullmaster]

Less talking for the cameraman would have made this video fire.

[@jimbo7484]

And you thought a Yamaha RD 350 was loud!

[@flymachine]

You must have THE most amazing and accepting wife in the universe, or the sorest back. I mean, at some point you cross over from replica into ‘climb in’, I felt nervous sneaking a 2m span spitty in but now I don’t. Also if ever there’s a worldwide shortage of green covering I’ll know who to blame.

[@AphexTwinII]

Sounds awful man, hopefully you can fix that, would have been an immediate fail at our fields here.

[@youknoweverything7643]

Me andy buddy blew up my Cessna 1/4 scale plans to 3/4 scale and built it using plans but modded it so you can sit in it and fly it as a ultra light with full cockpit not a rc plane but a beautiful electric ultralight super scale Cessna we built

[@kerbygator]

Cool. Make a video of you flying it or else I call bullshit. 😂

[@yvesjaccard2991]

I wont one 😍😍😍✌🏼✌🏼

[@av8tore71]

Use 100LL AVGAS

[@ianeverton1152]

I’m sure I have seen smaller real planes that people fly in

[@jasonstickitmoore]

Why? Can you not conteol a smaller one? Whynot buy the real thing?

[@lehshoot]

In fact he did . . . not long after this was filmed.

[@jasonstickitmoore]

@@lehshoot that is awesome. I fly up to a 40% any bigger in my opinion might as well be sitting in it. Props out and respect for all who share the same love in the hobby. 😊

[@beyondxtream4056]

I love big planes and engines, I fly them myself to, but "please" ....... but some descent mufflers on that thing..... man what a noise....... Prop-sound is okay.... but that engine noise... what a shame....

[@RXFARM1]

He has more plane than he has skills

[@DL6UK]

I wonder why you don´t use proper silencers. It´s terribly loud. A pilot is missing inside. :/

[@lehshoot]

I'll relay your message to the owner/pilot (who, by the way, custom built the muffler). Like beauty being in the eye of the beholder though, one man's noise is another man's music!

[@DL6UK]

@@lehshoot I fly models in Germany. We have noise restrictions like nearly every club in Ger. 82Db/a noise is the max allowed on our club airfield. All our nitro/gas driven models must pass a noise test. My DLE 111 passed its test last week. Unnecessary noise is a nuissance for others, I think it´s just unfair to those not interested in model flying as they are the ones complaining, leading up to closing model airfields. So better use adequate silencers. The engine in the video is just loud.

[@lehshoot]

@@DL6UK No argument on the fact that the engine is loud, and no argument that it might disturb certain folks. However, my home club is located on private farm land and the only disturbance will be to the occasional cow and maybe some stray birds. We don't fly over housing, because there is none within sight or ear shot. I would say that the majority of our members and guests actually fly electric, but everyone still seems to enjoy the thrill, noise and even the smell of the internal combustion engines some of the folks bring to the field. I'm wondering how you might enjoy visiting the "Joe Noll" events held every year near here at Triple Tree Airdrome in South Carolina. Hundreds of flyers and thousands of guests show up at the events, and the sounds all along the 7000 foot grass runway are simply incredible! Check out some of the "Joe Noll 2022" videos on KZbin and I think you'll understand more about our general attitudes on the subject over here.

[@michaelharrison6978]

Not noise its perfect song!!!!

[@DL6UK]

@@michaelharrison6978 Do you really think this is an intelligent comment? Would you like to live in an area with low flying planes above your house all day and night or next to a railway where trains are passing all day and night. Noise makes ill and engines can be made rather quiet with proper silencers without losing power. But I guess in some countries this topic is a fight against windmills today. They might need another 40years or even more to fully understand this and act accordingly.

[@robertlafnear7034]

Why would you spend the cash , take the time to build something 60% ?........... Money better spent on real flying lessons in a real EXTRA .🤔

[@BatworxRC]

Because he wants to! And thing is dirt cheap compared to full scale extra flying lol

[@user-me3ew4cd6g]

Самолёт для карлика.

[@MostlyIC]

why do people keep trying to build the biggest model airplane, just get a full sized plane and be done with it.

[@jameswalker366]

For fun

[@nateg6320]

He flies it like a yank and bank aircraft, not a huge dollar aircraft. Fantastic aircraft but the pilot needs a lot of training

[@Captndarty]

Not a very durable airplane. Its weight has exceeded its structural design limits.

[@ColeAviation]

Nice flying! But that old guy should have went on ahead and gave him his certificate instead of making him do one more lap risking his $15k plus airplane like that with the covering off the belly. Heck if he didn’t do enough flying the first time for him than the old fart should have went home. 🤣

[@digger0319]

Ich dachte der könnte fliegen 😮 und zeigt Kunstflug vom feinsten. Also das kann ich auch. Hauptsache cool Kaugummi fressen.

[@dbirds21]

Been flying for 20 years and not once have I flown at ama club fields..