Magnus Effect R/C Plane Aircraft
Aviation enthusiast James Whomsley of ProjectAir built what could be the world’s largest Magnus effect-inspired R/C plane. We say inspired because the design isn’t technically accurate, although it does manage to get off the ground…eventually.



This type of aircraft basically employs spinning cylinders or rotors. As the cylinder spins, it changes the airflow around it. On one side, the spinning adds to the airspeed, lowering the pressure, while on the other side, it slows the air down, increasing the pressure. This pressure difference generates lift, much like how a regular wing works, but in a very different way.

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Magnus Effect R/C Plane Aircraft
James noticed that the gyroscopic forces from the spinning rotors made it a bit wobbly, thus forcing him to tweak the design on the fly to keep it stable. He also noted the lift was decent at low speeds, but the drag was a real buzzkill—something that’s held back Magnus effect designs historically. Fortunately, he kept it fun, showing off crashes and overall a solid demo of the concept in action.