Chapter 462

Chapter 462: Model Aircraft

“Um, okay, I…” Mardan de Polignac raised the microphone in his hand and cleared his throat. Before he could say much, an F-22 fighter jet zoomed past the sky above him and the host with a whistling sound, only about ten meters off the ground.

The roar from the turbojet engines completely drowned out Mardan de Polignac’s voice, and all that viewers heard through the live broadcast was a rumbling noise.

“Uh, alright, as we can see, this is just a model aircraft, only one-tenth the size of a real fighter jet, and the ‘Raptor’ can’t fly at such a low altitude,” Mr. Mardan de Polignac stated helplessly, watching the smaller F-22 model proudly fly away, leaving him to start over.

Many viewers in front of their televisions were startled by the sudden appearance of the F-22 model, but upon hearing the guest’s resigned murmurs, quite a few showed knowing smiles.

The camera on site followed the guest’s gestures and turned towards the eight tall columns, and once again several model aircraft ascended into the low sky. Zooming in, the lens captured various models, including replicas of the F-22 “Raptor,” Su-27 “Guardian,” EF-2000 “Typhoon,” F-16 “Falcon,” and F-117 stealth bombers, as well as some propeller-driven P-51 “Mustangs,” Zero fighters, and “Big Mouth Birds.” Among them was even a large Boeing 747 model, its massive body making one think it could accommodate a person.

The enthusiasm of the model enthusiasts was truly unparalleled, bursting with limitless imagination.

No one could have imagined that the J-10 would one day fly alongside the F-117. Of course, real fighter jets could not accomplish this, but through another form, this impossible feat was achieved by those seasoned hobbyists.

The tiny turbojet engines that powered the models were not lacking in noise despite their size; the sky was filled with the unique roar of jet engines and the buzzing noise of propeller blades stirring the air.

“Getting back to the point, some of these model aircraft are manufactured by specialized companies, but many are hand-built by model enthusiasts. Building a fighter jet model oneself is no joke; don’t underestimate the ingenuity of true enthusiasts. They use materials available in the market and simple tools to construct them.”

“These are just scaled-down airplanes, and their engine structures are not that different from real fighter jets. Most engines are based on the FD3-64 model turbine engine invented by British engineer Kurt Schreckling, many made manually using stainless steel to create turbines, compressor rotors, and high-speed bearings. The specific manufacturing methods can be found in Schreckling’s book, *Gas Turbine Engine for Model Aircraft*, which can achieve thrust of over ten kilograms, solving the most critical engine problem. Well, a complete set of design plans can be downloaded online…”

Truly deserving of the title “aerospace enthusiast,” Mardan de Polignac spoke endlessly when it came to professional knowledge, leaving listeners dazzled.

However, the host was not easily swayed; they were there to conduct on-site interviews to warm up the audience for the upcoming aerospace exhibition in two days, not to give professional lectures. After all, as a private TV channel in France, they relied on popularity and paying subscribers to make a living.

If the guests spoke every detail, the host would have to make way for them.

Seizing the opportunity while Mardan de Polignac took a breath, the host interjected, signaling the cameraman to focus on him, and addressed the camera with a professional smile: “Thank you, Mr. de Polignac, for your insightful commentary. Let’s take a look at the aerial display; this is a brief rehearsal for the exhibition opening in two days. I believe many viewers are itching to see this! Cameraman, can you follow those little things?”

Referring to the model fighter jets as “little things” carried a childlike charm.

“No problem, Gilles!” A voice from off-screen indicated a slight shake of the camera; it must have been the cameraman.

“Alright, let’s enjoy these enthusiasts’ creations.”

As host Gilles Lebray spoke, the camera pointed towards the core of the program, and as the footage shifted, guest Mardan de Polignac added concise commentary that perfectly matched what was being shown on screen.

“Let me take a look; this is a model of the J-10, a third-generation semi-fighter aircraft made in China. It features an unstable design with excellent climbing performance, making it adept at high-altitude interception. It’s quite nimble, and wow, the craftsmanship is exquisite! The flight posture is smooth and agile, the operator is definitely a veteran in the model aircraft community, comparable to a real pilot’s skill…”

“…A big loop! Next, it looks like it’s going to zigzag around those eight columns, perhaps even performing a Hoover oscillation or snake maneuver. Hmm, it really does look impressive! Gilles, some of these remote control players might even be military personnel. As I know, many drone operators in the military are selected from seasoned model hobbyists, and they possess significant talent—often not inferior to real fighter pilots—only limited by their physical fitness and lack of stable psychological resilience…”

“…That’s beautiful! A perfect snake maneuver, swaying left and right ten times like a graceful swallow, following an ‘S’ shaped flight path just right, and not touching a single column! Let’s check the next one. Oh, it’s the American F-22, twin-engine. Since it’s a model, it’s a bit heavier and not as nimble as a real fighter. Well, not bad at all; it got around by tilting its body at a sharp angle.”

“Just a moment, Mr. de Polignac. I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead, Gilles.”

“I want to ask, it seems those remote controllers have no trouble maneuvering their planes around those columns. Is controlling these models really that simple? Watching them perform so brilliantly makes me want to buy or build one for my son and me to play with.”

“Oh no, Gilles, it’s not that simple. The difficulty in controlling a model aircraft is not much different from operating a real airplane; it requires training, a lot of training, and a certain level of spatial awareness. Only with these factors can one perfectly operate the aircraft and create smooth, graceful flight paths; otherwise, they will crash. Don’t be fooled by how brilliantly the seasoned players control their planes; every one of them has at least one crash record, with complete write-offs. That kind of blow is truly beyond words to describe.”

“Alright, thank you, Mr. de Polignac. It seems that remote controlling model aircraft is no simple task. So, I advise everyone, if you plan to buy or build such models, it’s best to seek the guidance of a professional to avoid injuring yourself or others and to prevent damage to public facilities.”

“Mm-hmm! Well said, Gilles! You are indeed a responsible host.”

“Thank you! I’d like to ask another question. With these eight columns here, since model aircraft can fly around them, can real planes do the same?”

“That’s a great question! Judging by eye, the spacing between these eight columns is about 60 meters. I fear only propeller-driven piston aircraft flying below 400 kilometers per hour could barely make it through. It’s quite dangerous since there are eight columns, and every maneuver must be perfect. Jet fighters, being heavy and difficult to control, find it challenging to make such intricate maneuvers, especially over such short distances—only about three to four body lengths between the columns, which is practically impossible! Oh, look, here comes a real fighter!”

“My assistant just informed me that a Russian fighter jet is transitioning in. Wow, it’s a real fighter, the Sukhoi ‘Gregory’ Flight Squadron, with seven aircraft, all Su-27s. Look, they’re here!”

“That’s right, Gilles, your news is quite timely! The ‘Guardian’ is among Russia’s most classic main battle jets, following the ‘Fish Nest’ (MiG-21), and holds high international prestige. I can see them now, flying in a diagonal line formation, subsonic. Hmm, I see those model aircraft are starting to land. At low altitudes, especially with real aircraft coming in, these smaller model planes can easily encounter accidents. They’re as dangerous as birds; they will need to temporarily exit the area and rest. Many other countries’ planes are expected to transition in later today; let’s wait and see.”

“They’re coming! How beautiful! Their combat capability must be impressive!”

“Exactly! Look, many tourists are waving at the sky. Maybe those seven ‘Guardians’ will drop some candies or something. Candy bombardment—what a wonderful idea! I consider myself a pacifist!”

“Haha, Mr. de Polignac, you’re quite entertaining!”

At this moment, the sky above Bourget Airport was filled with deafening roars, as the noise from the seven fighter jet engines was formidable.

In response to the tourists’ cheers, the Su-27 group even changed their formation from a diagonal line to a V-shape, soaring as if not just fighter jets but a flock of geese winging southward.