County Durham company builds largest model airliner in its history

The team spent over two and a half years and 5,000 hours designing and constructing a bespoke Fokker 70 airliner for a high-profile American filmmaker based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The £100,000 project replicates a late-1990s Fokker 70 and measures 5 m long, with a 4.5 m wingspan, weighing 65 kg ready for take-off. Built predominantly from carbon & glass fibre rather than traditional plywood and balsa wood. The aircraft is both strong and lightweight.

With no kit or plans available, the team worked from a blank sheet of paper, completing all design and construction in-house and sourcing only the engines and electronic flight systems. The commission came through a recommendation from a former client of more than 20 years ago.

The filmmaker was so impressed that he commissioned a second model, twice the size, before the first one was finished. That second aircraft is now halfway through construction. The finished Fokker 70 is currently being carefully packed and prepared for shipment to the United States.

Phil Clark, owner of Fighteraces, said: “The scale and complexity of this project was unlike anything we’ve ever done. It challenged us, but seeing the finished model ready to fly to the US makes it all worthwhile.”

The project has drawn attention online and sparked enquiries from clients worldwide. Phil and his team work from a 1,000 sq ft workshop and also supply materials for hobbyists globally.

Fighteraces is at Unit 2G, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester-le-Street, DH2 1AG.

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