Ready for take-off

The balsa wood and polystyrene Airbus A330 200 replica spans four metres, weighs more than 20kg and is powered by two jet turbine engines.

Mr Herzfeld said he was looking forward to flying the replica, but admitted he was nervous about the first landing.

"Once you learn how to fly them it sort of comes naturally, but flying a model of this scale …the first flight is going to be very scary; I imagine Im going to be shaky," he said.

The Perth Airport aircraft refueler said a love for aviation ran in his family, beginning with his grandfather who worked for MacRobertson Miller Airlines.

"As a kid, we had a house overlooking the airport, so I used to fold up bits of paper and throw them off the veranda, and that developed into balsa wood models and then into remote control models and I've also achieved a commercial pilot's licence," he said.

The West Australian RC Jet Association (Westjet) member said he planned to fly the replica airbus for the public at Whiteman Park on the weekend of May 2.

Mr Hezfeld said he had been flying remote- control planes for more than 35 years.

The aircraft enthusiast said the main challenge facing him during the first flight was the landing as he has to bring the aircraft down at the right speed and angle.

Mr Hezfeld encouraged the public to attend the Whiteman Park event at the WA Model Aircraft Centre.

"It's certainly different to anything else that is flying in Australia at the moment.

"It will be the first airliner of this type in Australia and also the largest jet engine model to be built and flown in the country," he said.

Aviation enthusiast Andrew Herzfeld with his remote-controlled Airbus, which he will control

on its maiden flight. Picture: Bruce Hunt www.communitypix.com.au d435412