And now for something completely different

Somehow I'm typically male: I'm not just interested in eating but also sports, especially soccer. I go down to the football ground, the place where it's all happening, even if it's wet and cold. I didn't know till now that care has a four-wheel secret... scarifiers, lawn mowers, lawn tractors, cutterbar mowers, John Deere is the specialist in this field.

»»» http://www.deere.com

How about a superlative for a change

ROSENBAUER is one of the world's largest manufacturers of fire fighting vehicles.


Image source: Wikimedia

With its wide range of municipal fire fighting vehicles and aerials built to both European and US standards, its extensive series of Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting vehicles and industrial fire fighting vehicles, advanced fire fighting components and fire & safety equipment, Rosenbauer is the industry`s full-liner.


Image source: Wikimedia

»»» Here's the Wikipedia information

With both feet on the ground

If it's not just urgent but on fire:


Image source: Rosenbauer.com

»»» http://www.rosenbauer.com/

It seems that Rosenbauer can be found at most airports and fire stations all over the world ...

There may be some surprises, for the technical data of these treasures click on "more"?

And a very large model aircraft

An A380 as model aircraft...


Das größte Modellflugzeug der Welt (A380) - MyVideo

And here is one on top...:

the largest helicopter...

»»» http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/helicopters/q0284.shtml


Mil V-12, largest helicopter in the world:


Image source: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/


Relative size comparison of the V-12, Mi-26 and CH-53E:


Image source: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/

However, if you can't afford a real Antonov...

... this is how to build your own:

Image source: www.ipmsdeutschland.de

What is the world's largest aircraft?
Seek and ye shall find:

http://www.fai.org/records/

Antonov is flying...now also in Europe

Image source: http://de.academic.ru/

Some months ago An-225 started to conquer the Western sky. In cooperation with Antonow, British freight charter airlines hire this heavyweight for the transport of overweight loads no other aircraft can transport. With a payload of 250 tons the An-225 can transport more than double the load of the Jumbo freighter Boeing 747-400F, and the maximum flight weight of 600 tons is even higher than that of the Airbus A380; this European jumbo, the world's largest passenger aircraft started flying in 2005 and weighs "only" 550 tons with full load.

»»» See http://www.antonov.com

My dream: The Antonow

Image source: wikipedia.org

»»Compare the Antonow An-225 (green) to the other wide-bodied aircraft: Boeing 747-8I (blue), Hughes H-4 (yellow) and Airbus A380 (red)

Who or what is this?

Length: 85.30 m
Height: 18.20 m
Wing span: 88.40 m
Tail span: 32.65 m
Wing area: 905 m²
Aspect ratio: 8.63

Wing loading:
• Minimum (empty weight): 193 kg/m²
• Maximum (maximum takeoff weight): 663 kg/m²

Dimensions cargo compartment:
• Length: 43.3 m
• Width: 6.4 m
• Height: 4.4 m

Cargo volume: 1.220 m³
Empty weight: approx. 175 tons
Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 600 tons

Maximum payload:
• internal: 250 tons
• external: 90 tons

Maximum speed: 820 Km/h
Service ceiling: 11,000 m

Max. range:
• without load: 15,400 Km
• with 200 t load: 4,500 Km
• with maximum load: 2,500 Km

Crew: 7 persons, of whom 6 in the cockpit
Engines: Six ZMKB Lotarew D-18T-by-pass engine with 229.85 kN thrust each

Airplanes as far as you can see...

at the airport on the observation deck I spot airplanes and a flat caterpillar-like 4-wheel vehicle. Awesome, how small it looks next to the airplane.
I find out from a member of the service staff that it is an aircraft tractor: OK, an aircraft tractor...

what if it should pull an aircraft like this one:


this is what an aircraft tractor looks like:
Pushback tractors use a low profile design to fit under the aircraft nose. To have enough traction, the tractor needs to be heavy, and most models can have extra ballast added. A typical tractor for large aircraft weighs up to 54 metric tons and has a drawbar pull of 334 kN Often, the driver's cabin can be raised for increased visibility when reversing, and lowered to fit under aircraft.

»»» http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushback

Learning to fly...

I think I'll try to follow these instructions:
»»» http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/en/LearningToFly


Image source: http://plischka.at


it's anything but easy... but this site helps:
»»» http://forum.mikrokopter.de/forum-24.html


Image source: http://plischka.at


NOTE: make sure you have a liability insurance covering model flights before the first flight!

Source:
»»» http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/en/Mikrokopter-Get-started

hold on to your hat
:)

Has anyone done this before or does anyone have information for me? Please reply to BBasi@yahoo.de

Bob the Builder...

I am totally captured by my new field of interest, I will try to build something like this myself:



here's an introduction to the subject:
»»» http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/en/Mikrokopter-Get-started



building something like this should cost around € 450 to 1000... relatively expensive, but I'll try anyway

you might even install a camera on board of the small flying object... or a guinea pig...
up to 250 g are no problem

A trace of curiosity...

here's something for tinkerers:

»»» http://mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/

I came across this in an old Technology Review in an article about the company HiSystems ("Ein Anflug von Neugier", 12/09).

»»» Information about HiSystems

this is what they can do:

»» http://vimeo.com/4381833

and they were also a much-noticed guest at the Hanover Trade Fair:

»» http://vimeo.com/4247544