Flying Hellcat model smaller than your hand

Not sure if this is the proper forum, if not please move.

A LONGFORD-based company has made “an incredible breakthrough” by producing the world’s smallest and lightest radio-controlled model aircraft.

Up to 20 new Irish jobs are set to be created by the tiny plane.

No longer than your hand, about as wide as a pencil, and flying at speeds of 25mph, the Micro Hellcat has been given an enthusiastic welcome by drooling aircraft model-makers all over the world.

After two years of top-secret research, the Micro Hellcat has been described by renowned pilot and model-maker Dr Colin Clarke (pictured right) as “absolutely beautiful. It will bring model aircraft flying to the masses,” he said.

The model plane is based on the famous Grumman Hellcat naval fighter plane of WW11. Vincent English, the man behind the tiny plane, will commence full production in March.

“We will be employing ten people immediately, and up to ten more shortly after that,” he said.

Mr English runs IBotz from a community development office in Lanesboro, Co Longford, and the company specialises in educational kits and toys.

At the moment, IBotz employ about 110 people worldwide, and the Micro Hellcat breakthrough has brought about the need for a new production facility in Longford town.

The Micro Hellcat, 70 times smaller than the original fighter, will retail at about €60, and 2,000 orders have already been placed even before the product is formally launched at toy fairs in Germany and New York in the next fortnight.

“We showed it at the Young Scientist Exhibition and it got a great response. It is affordable and very durable, it can crash 100 times and still be fine,” said Vincent. , a native of Achill Island, Co Mayo.

The Micro Hellcat is expected to bring model flying to a whole new audience as it is able to fly within a range of about 300 feet, and this will prove attractive to people to want to fly it indoors.”

The previous smallest plane was about three times as big as this.

UK-based Dr Clarke, whose ‘real’ work as an aircraft pilot makes him acutely aware of the difficulties in producing the Micro Hellcat, believes the product will introduce model aircraft flying to a whole new audience.

Irish Independent