One of the contenders for the title of worlds largest rc plane is a one-of-a-kind Belgian-made 1:5 scale model of the B-29 Superfortress bomber called Dina Might, which memorably was the first of the B-29s to land at Motoyama Airfield No. 1 on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II. With four engines of 160 cc each, the RC plane model can lift 210 kilograms into the air.
Its wingspan is 8.9 meters (almost 30 feet) while its weight is 210 kilograms (463 pounds). This RC airplane is controlled by two pilots, one to control the plane and the other to control the flaps, brake, and light. This particular RC plane is acknowledged by many sources as the worlds largest rc plane although it does not yet appear to have been adjudicated or written up in the Web site of the Guinness World Records.
Some people might consider RC sailplanes with wingspans of more than 10 meters as contenders for the title of worlds largest RC plane, but apparently such planes are more like gliders. A formidable RC model of the largest plane in the world, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, also exists. However, it is not considered the worlds largest RC plane but rather a good-sized model of the largest airplane.
The MQ-9 Reaper is basically a giant RC turboprop airplane built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems that could also be considered the worlds largest RC plane. M stands for multi-role and Q means unmanned aircraft system. It is the ninth in the series of remotely piloted aircraft systems.
The Predator has a wingspan of 66 feet (20.1 meters). Its weight is about 4,900 pounds (2,223 kilograms) when empty, while maximum takeoff weight is 10,500 pounds (4,760 kilograms). It has been used as a hunter/killer weapon system since initial operating capability in October 2007. This aircraft is equipped with the Multi-spectral Targeting System and a synthetic aperture radar to enable GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions targeting.
Each of the MQ-9 aircraft systems can be taken apart and loaded into a single container for deployment anywhere in the world. Remote crew for the Predator consists of two people: a pilot and a sensor operator.
The MQ-9 is operated by the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 42nd Attack Squadron (both at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada) and the 29th Attack Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The MQ-9 could also probably be the worlds largest RC plane although the US Air Force prefers to describe it as a system and not merely an aircraft.
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