BIG WOOD! Legendary Hangar Queen Is About To Fly!

[madmax]

OMG, you guys aren't gonna believe this! Let's jump in the 'ol FlyingGiants time machine waaaaay back in modeling time to year 2000. While us mere mortals were rockin' out to Prince, and panicking over Y2K, something very cool was in the works.

Legendary builder Bob Sawyer began working on an aggressive project in which he would create a 70% Staudacher that would actually fly! The culmination of Bob's vision was seen on static display at the 2002 TOC, and the beast was born. The uber-huge model airplane represented probably the biggest "flyable" plane to date in the US, only rivaled by Mac Hodges huge B-29 which has since been seen at many events around the country.

Built and configured like its full scale counterpart, the craftsmanship on The Staudacher was second to none! Aircraft grade aluminum, carbon fiber, nomex, safety wiring, and insane 12 volt self powered system, an HKS 700CC Ultra Light engine, and other significant building feats were the trademark of this aircraft. To the dismay of us fans, the incredible 17 foot beauty never flew, and has gone into hiding since. All 300+ pounds of her.

Well folks, this is all about to change! Now, like many of you, I've been a HUGE fan of the Staudacher since day one, and I was giddy with excitement to learn that she has come out of the temperature controlled rafters, and is now being prepped for her maiden flight!

Enter our two unknown builders. These cats wish to have their identity kept secret as to not be "made" by the throngs of Staudacher groupies, nor do they wish to receive the inevitable "don't even think about it" fan mail from others. Their identities will be revealed soon, and if you find the trademark Everlast wife beater, and the 2 cell phones a dead giveaway, please help protect the anonymity of our partners in crime.

FlyingGiants has revealed that the Staudacher will be retrofitted with a MASSIVE 3W 684CC running a tuned pipes, and will swing a GIANT custom made 42x14 prop. If you're interested, the price for this 38lb 60 horsepower motor is somewhere around $10k US. Applications for stuff this big is typically found in military drones. The new motor will drop the Staudacher's weight significantly into the 200lb range.

The power system in the Staudacher is also being modified to accommodate 12 custom made Fromeco battery packs that will power the 3 Seiko 105 on the wings and rudder, and the 2 Seiko 50's on the stabs. The Staudacher is also gettin' some cool new vinyl, and from what I'm being told, will fly The FlyingGiants goods as well!

The Staudacher will fly this August at an undisclosed location in The Midwest. We'll letcha know when it happens, and will have comprehensive coverage for the world to see.

Stay tuned right here to FlyingGiants.com for the latest news and information regarding this KILLER project! "Mr. Big" and friend will also be bringing to us an exciting project this winter that will see the kit to air progress of a giant 60% Weidner Ultimate (http://www.weimo.net/html/weimo-bausatze1.html).

I don't know about y'all, but I'm giddy with excitement!

Best--

Max

[madmax]

Photos from the archive of Bob Sawyer and his new 17' Staudacher, taken circa 2002.

[madmax]

The Staudacher in 2007 and our anonymous dynamic duo. She's out of mothballs, and being prepped for her historic maiden flight this summer.

[madmax]

post reserved..

[3dubya]

MASSIVE 3W 684CC yep that scares me, who has bigger nads the guy flying it or the guy who starts it..

[Mike c.]

WOW! that thing is huge! Good luck to the builders and whoever gets to pilot on the maiden! Could you imagine rolling to contest with that beast?

[Vic3D]

Damn Max, that's sick! I never thought I would see this beast fly. Yeaaaaah!!

[iflyrc3Dstyle]

I just had a kid!

Subscribed!

This plane looks great. I sure would like to see it in person.

[Adam K.]

That thing is huge!! I want one!!

[madmax]

Rumor is it will not be availaible in ARF any time soon.

[Dean Allison]

WOW! That is one serious project. That 3W 684 is just huge. If you were daft enough you could get in than thing and fly it from the inside!

[skyraider0129]

HOLY CAT SH** BATMAN!!