County Durham model aeroplane company ‘flying high’ with US filmmaker contract

A County Durham model aeroplane building company has secured a contract to build a model Fokker 70 airliner for a high-profile American filmmaker and playwright with another in the pipeline.

Model aeroplane enthusiast Phil Clark who owns ‘Fighteraces’ located on the Drum Industrial Estate in Chester-Le-Street, sealed the two 18-month long projects with the filmmaker.

The first project involves custom building a radio-controlled flying model of the Fokker 70 passenger aeroplane that will be one sixth the size of the full-size aircraft, producing a model with a five metre wingspan and almost 5.5 metre long when once complete.

Phil commented: “I am very proud to be asked to design and build this aeroplane. It’s one of the largest model aeroplanes we have been commissioned to build and, as the Fokker 70 is a passenger airliner, is quite different to our usual work creating military-style aeroplanes and fighter jets.”

The double-deal success has ensured longer-term security for the business, which has established an extensive customer base throughout the world, and Phil is also planning to grow his team with the appointment of a computer-aided design (CAD) technician to work on the specialist projects.

Phil continued: “The past few years have been truly unprecedented times with uncertainty around Brexit, the devastation of the pandemic, and the challenges around rising costs so the positive impact this long-term work brings for us are very welcome indeed.”

Phil, and his team at Fighteraces, design and build a wide range of bespoke model aeroplanes from a 1,000 square-foot workshop. The service involves designing the model aeroplanes, manufacturing all parts, and assembling them to create the final product. They also supply building and finishing materials for model hobbyists through its website.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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