Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some
form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle
my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which
all began in Mayo, MD
...
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The
September 2009 edition of Model Aviation had an inset feature of the Cardboard Condor, by Ryan Livingston. The Condor
has a wingspan of more than 12 feet (150.7" to be exact), and uses more than 80 square feet of 5/32" thick cardboard
in its construction. Light ply and pine are used in the framework. It weighs 50.6 lbs and uses 4 O.S. .61FX 2-stroke
engines. The sound of the four engines is amazing.
I assume that the name "Cardboard Condor" is a play on the "Gossamer
Condor," which was the first human-powered aircraft to achieve sustained, controlled flight.
Here are a few videos of it in flight - pretty cool!