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Chinese Farmer Builds ‘Airplane’ Out of Scrap in Shenyang

by on Thursday, March 1, 2012 76 comments

In Liaoning Province, one Shenyang farmer has spent 40,000 RMB over the past 2 years building a large-scale passenger airplane model out of recycled steel.

In Liaoning Province, one Shenyang farmer surnamed Li has spent the last two years building a large-scale passenger airplane model out of recycled scrap metal, spare time, and love.

The five meter long, four meter wide “airplane” rests outside Li’s home, and is the product of 58-year-old Li’s lifelong dream of being a pilot. As seen in the pictures, the plane is nearing “completion” with just a few coats of paint left to be added.

The primary material used is abandoned and recycled steel scrap, which was procured and welded by Li himself as it became available to him. The cost of attaining one’s dreams? Thus far Li has sunk 40,000 RMB (~$6,200) into the project.

Though it has no chance of going airborne, hopefully the plane will lift Li’s spirits when it’s finally completed.

In Liaoning Province, one Shenyang farmer has spent 40,000 RMB over the past 2 years building a large-scale passenger airplane model out of recycled steel.

In Liaoning Province, one Shenyang farmer has spent 40,000 RMB over the past 2 years building a large-scale passenger airplane model out of recycled steel.

In Liaoning Province, one Shenyang farmer has spent 40,000 RMB over the past 2 years building a large-scale passenger airplane model out of recycled steel.

Source: NetEase

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  1. Jeff
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:04 am

    hahahaha Watch out Piper you have Chinese competition!

    Reply
  2. Cool Matt
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:24 am

    Its not the destination, but the journey. (Even if it doesn’t go anywhere. )

    Reply
  3. Sherry
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Great respect for him

    Reply
  4. Tom Swift
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:31 am

    The reality of communism. Dreams unfulfilled with no chance of ever obtaining ones desires unless you were born to the right family.

    Reply
    • robin yates
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:55 am

      surely the same applies in the West? If you don’t have the education,the money,the chance, how will you achieve your dream? The Chinese are an upcoming nation, soon to be number one in the world.I have great respect for them. There are many problems but they realise this and are curing those ills.

      Reply
    • Cunt
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 9:56 am

      Replace “communism” with “capitalism” and your ignorant, boorish statement still makes absolute sense. I’d suggest you use “contemporary society”.

      Reply
    • DRaY
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 10:00 am

      Sir, how dare you mock the communists!!! They have freedoms you do not, like the freedom to build junk in their backyard!!!!! Your neighborhood associations in Democratic America would not stand for this, they would fine you and kick you out of your home if you even thought about creating something like this at home.
      Now ask yourself friend,……….. Who truly has the freedom?

      Reply
      • Irvin
        Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 3:06 pm

        I think freedom of speech and human rights are more important than building junks.

        Reply
        • DRaY
          Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:02 am

          i was joking ….no place is perfect

          Reply
        • Bitches Ain't Shit
          Friday, March 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm

          What good is freedom of speech if it hardly achieves anything?

          Do tell me about the dramatic changes in the U.S. government policy this freedom of speech has produced. As far as I can see, democrat or republic it’s all the fucking same thing. You’re voting for a circle jerk, but you’re too stupid to see it.

          Please tell me how the tens of thousands killed overseas fulfill human rights.

          Americans are all talk and full of hot fucking air. Every single one I’ve ever fucking met.

          Reply
      • B-real
        Friday, March 2, 2012 at 1:56 am

        Dray you have a point but its totally depends on location and how dickish your neighbor are. This is my field of expertise when I was in China. He will be caught by more than 3 governing bodies. They will demand that hunk of junk to be demolished or removed if his location warrants it.

        Our 2 system are growing closer to each. Neighborhood associations has nothing to do with freedom. Your point is misguided. In America urban area suffer tighter SAFTY codes than the rural areas. My property in Los Angeles will surely not allow me to build anything that could be hazardous to the adjacent homes due to the space constraints and the environment. But my land in Tulsa which is 4-5 acres between neighbors and a make shift run way that crosses thru 10 property lines (illegally) was approve when allowed to be used for public use and is considered community property. Im free to build what ever when ever how ever. In my back yard, I have a hangar (permitted) on the run way when I have clients come out for some rework.

        Back to China. My business before China raised its bar and allowed private planes to fly over 10000 feet was to Shanzai aircraft kits out of junk like this guy. I had a rich backer from Taiwan and was station in the sticks North of Beijing. Reason we didn’t succeed, at the time there was no civil aviation allowed although they had a governing body (CACC = Chinese FAA) there were no FREEDOM for aircrafts that were limited to 3000 – 10000 feet of altitude. These small aircrafts were deemed illegal. All the work we had done building these aircraft were later confiscated by Chinese customs all governing bodies due to the fact that they were old designs from America any exports (yes blue prints are considered trade materials subject to customs review before being transmitted) old than 15 years is not allowed with the borders unless being operated in a commercial capacity. In other words private owners could not fly our designs. So then we hired real designers to build planes from scratch and road blocks were there but it all fell back onto will people be able to fly these thing legally here in China. Things have changed since then the law has been lifted and now export business business is good. Rich Chinese wanna fly we ship what ever plane they want because Chinese manufactures are not trusted to make suitable private aircrafts.

        In China freedom is granted when warranted or deemed fit. Im going to go out on a stretch but certain things in China just doesn’t need to be free amongst them. But they don’t have it and they are not there yet.

        In america money buys freedom. I paid for my freedom when applied for permits to build the runway. I pay my property taxes to be able to keep doing what I do freely on my property. You wanna make it a dispute over which nation is more free It won’t just be about free speech and human rights.

        Reply
        • DRaY
          Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:49 am

          I agree with a lot of what you say .. my original point was to make “light” of what people consider freedom…. here’s what got me thinking about it,
          A friend and I were driving in on the highway in China, and I remember seeing a sign that read, “no bicycles on the highway”. After about 5 minutes I saw 2 guys riding bicycles on the hwy… I was shocked, because it looked very dangerous. So I loked to my friend and asked. “Why are those guys on the hwy when the sign clearly states that it is prohibited? Aren’t the police going to make them get off the hwy?”. His response was truly classic… he said, “You Americans think China has no freedom, but look the sign says dont ride, but no one will bother them if they do it. SO who is truly free them or you?” (my friend was quite the smart ass about everything by the way)
          America is still an awesome place and I am in no means saying America is a terrible place to live, but it is slowly losing what makes it truly special.
          - I mean what use it freedom of speech and the right to protest if the people forgot how to use these rights effectively. eg. occupy wallstreet
          -What good is freedom if the press if the press doesnt report anything worthwhile. eg. non stop celebrity non-sense, and partisan issues.
          - What is the point of having democracy and a 2 party system, if both sides are only supporting big business.
          -What the point of having an elected offical if we let our leaders get away with manipulating us. eg. george bush
          - How are we free when our govenrment can monitor our private information and have the right to strip Americans of their freedom as they see fit? eg , patriot act and other new laws recently passed? Look it up!!

          I’m not America bashing, but I see see changes in American life and the changes are not good. I live in both countries and I feel just as free in either place. They both have pros and cons, I expect the extra level of redtape in China, it is very unnerving when because I feel like I’m in a police state whenever I’m in the US.

          I like the way you siad, “I paid for my freedom”, because no matter which country you live in the only way to insure you don’t get screwed is to make sure you have the money. If not you’re just a helpless cog going through the motions.

          Reply
          • A GUY
            Friday, March 2, 2012 at 12:09 pm

            Really. Some guys break the law in China so they are free. That is a load. They are still at the whims of the state. As soon as anyone gets a mind to enforce it they are hosed. Heck as soon as an official has a mind to do anything to them they are hosed. Just cause America has regulation, that doesn’t make it not free. That makes us not poisoned by our food, our children not in constant danger, and protects us from big business.

            The bike riders are not thanks to Chinese sensibility, that’s due to mismanagement by a government, and poor enforcement. The fact that America doesn’t have to enforce the rule about bicycles on the highway just goes to show that a lighter touch is more effective.

            America has issues. Things aren’t getting worse, they are just changing. You probably just older and more jaded than you used to be.

            In America we are dealing with the issues of money’s ability to buy favors and trying to make that an incentive to succeed without stifling the freedom of those who cannot buy those favors. For all it’s problems America is relatively fair and full of opportunity. I think that we need to deal with income equality a bit more, but that doesn’t change that all Americans have opportunity to live and succeed and do as they wish.

            But good point about the News. American news blows. BBC rocks.

          • B-real
            Friday, March 2, 2012 at 5:17 pm

            Freedom and lack of police enforcement are 2 different things. On the other hand Patriot act, sorry but im in defense sector but even as a liberal I support the act. Its protecting my freedom. Don’t look suspect and you won’t be a suspect. Im not afraid to share my info with the Government what do I have to hide that they don’t already know. My privacy was not blatantly violated like when I was in China. I’ve never had my servers scrubbed for info because I was running a business that staffed Americans, my home was never raided for being a foreigner in Korea. I don’t have to register with the police station within 24 hours after landing into any other country. As far as Im concerned that added sense of security whether it be false or not helps me sleep knowing that my freedom as it stands today is protected. I earn my money honestly, pay my taxes honestly and live my life honestly free of Government interference end of story.

  5. RZ
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:55 am

    $6200… How many flying lessons could he have bought with that? IMO one time behind the stick in the air is better than years with this. Are there leisure flight schools like that in China?

    Reply
  6. hanyucha
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:57 am

    Movie of the article: Con Air

    Reply
  7. KAC
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 9:51 am

    Even though his dream is to fly, this project of his was a waste of time and money.

    Reply
  8. Capt. WED
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 10:40 am

    the fuck?

    There is another chinese farmer that built an ultralight helicopter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRo9UvzgJYM&feature=related

    I don’t think it’s impossible for a Chinese farmer to build an airplane (still highly unlikely). But they have to start small. Build a wood and fabric airplane first before wasting all that time trying to build a metal aircraft. I can probably build an airplane if given enough time ;P I wouldn’t fly it though.

    Reply
  9. JoE
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:00 am

    Now that’s determination not many people have. : )

    Reply
  10. lonetrey
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:00 am

    This is actually really cool. I thought it would be something really pathetic, but it turns out at least he’s being realistic about his dreams. I like what he’s done to reach for it.

    Reply
  11. eattot
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:07 am

    if you watch cctv 10 我爱发明，you will see there are many cute and respectable persons in china.

    Reply
  12. Peye
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:37 am

    Perhaps the village children can play in it pretending to fly to far away places. Stimulates curiousity wich is more impotant then knowledge.

    Reply
  13. Kedafu
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Come Fly With Me
    -Befour

    http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/svOQsN_T394/

    五毛党

    Reply
  14. Rick in China
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    What a useless piece of shit. Why would anyone even make this ‘project’ into a story? It’s equivalent to some idiot building a sand castle.

    Reply
    • robin yates
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      or similar to your idiot reply

      Reply
      • Rick in China
        Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:08 pm

        Insightful. Thanks for the feedback fuckface.

        Building his milk carton with windows doesn’t serve any purpose whatsoever. It resembles nothing of an aircraft except that it looks like a pile of shit strapped together in a “similar” shape.

        People with relatively less money than this fool have sunk into his milk carton have built *functional* aircraft. What makes this story special IN THE LEAST? Aside from the fact it makes people like “robin yates” say “Aww! He’s so great!”.

        Reply
    • Boris
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      It looks a darn sight more airworthy than some of the Aeroflot nose-divers I’ve flown in.

      Reply
  15. Dat Ankle
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    This is actually a pretty nice way to fill up a person evening, and even if it doesnt fly how many of us common folks can say we built a fucking airplane?

    Reply
  16. Castro
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    Song of the article-

    ‘Too much time on my hands’

    Styx

    Reply
    • White Thrash
      Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      The sad part is, once built, I’m pretty sure he’ll be bored with it.

      I think it’s mostly as a hobby. Some play cards… at least he’s doing something a bit different and more creative.

      I’m sure if he was labelled differently, let’s say as an artist, people would judge him in a very different way… sad people…

      Like some of our elders could say “In my time… kids were given a piece of rope and a wooden stick and were happy to play with it”.
      I guess he’s still one of that kind, not perverted by the material side of things (more by default than by choice I guess).

      Kind of cute I think

      Reply
      • 山炮 ShanPao
        Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:44 pm

        I wonder what his family think (if he has one) $40,000 could surely be better spent. Especially when there is scrap metal lying all over the place.

        Reply
        • Ryo
          Friday, March 2, 2012 at 2:58 am

          You’d be surprise how little “scrap” there is in China. All the peasants will take it to recyclers for money. You leave a few empty boxes outside, you can be sure it’ll be gone before the end of the day. This goes pretty much for bottles, newspapers, and anything metal or plastic. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure couldn’t be more true here.

          Reply
      • donscarletti
        Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:59 pm

        If he was called an artist, I would say “at least he’s not as much of a douche as Damien Hirst”.

        Reply
  17. Kim Jung iLL
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    Airplane? it can’t even fly

    Reply
  18. whichone
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    Airplane? merely an airplane shaped metal can, why are people so excited?

    Reply
  19. TaiwanIndependence
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    admire his passion, but honestly horrible lookin plane….

    Reply
  20. Es
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    a very resourceful and hardworking man indeed! good luck

    Reply
  21. sabrina
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    fighting!!

    Reply
  22. typingfromwork
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    This is fucking awesome, like that farmer who made robots in his spare time.

    Reply
  23. cc
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    He can now sit in his plane for hours on end waiting for take off, just like being on China air, bet the service is just as shit as well. And he can fill it up with all his neighbours hacking, spitting and coughing all over the place just to make it more realistic.

    Reply
  24. Dave in Macau
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    To be fair this is a pretty lame story. Furthermore there are no translated comments by Chinese netizens so I guess Joel was at a loss for a new story, looked out his window and then……

    Reply
  25. Appalled@everything
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    Just how in hell did this guy get his hands on 40,000 RMB? That’s the real story here.

    Reply
  26. jeffli
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    Good to see people with wholesome hobbies, even when facing limited resources! seriously!
    Along the way he would have learnt a little about sheet metal fabrication and so-on, and engaged his mind.
    I hope this gentleman and his neighbours have fun.

    though I think if he really paid 40,000RMB for scrap metal then he was ripped off but the passion of a hobbyist/tinker knows no boundaries!

    Zhen BANG!

    Reply
  27. deputamadre
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:48 pm

    This is why your wife left you.

    Reply
  28. Chinggis was here
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    WTF?

    He’d wanna watch out, Apple’s gonna have his arse in court for intellectual property infringement.

    Reply
  29. Canadian_Skies
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 1:07 am

    lol

    Bogey on my 6! Ratt-tatt-tatt-tatt!

    Reply
  30. Ryo
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 3:04 am

    Perhaps he can organize an 18 man 1 girl orgy in that thing. The girl can even cosplay as a China Southern stewardess!

    Reply
  31. Olrik
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Sorry dude, but it still looks like a pile of scrap metal to me; but who knows maybe she’ll fly with the right fuel (smack, acid, coke)…

    Reply
  32. Foreign Devil
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    Something sweet but also sad about this story. I feel sorry for the guy who did not have the means to fulfill his dreams of being a pilot.

    Reply
  33. Bunny99
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Is the movie Astronaut farmer banned in China?

    It should be – best not to give them ideas.

    Imagine 5 tonnes of fermented pig manure splattered all over the moon.

    Reply
  34. Momo
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    ;’( I wish I had the money to help him fulfill his dreams.. I would at least arrange a try out in a flight simulator or something :p but too bad I’m not rich -_-

    Reply
  35. Bruce Tutty
    Friday, March 2, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    Be great for the neighbours kids to play in though!

    Reply
  36. vivian
    Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 12:30 am

    a real man chasing after his dreams are the men that I love.

    Reply
  37. MonkeyMouth
    Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    c’mon, folks…….he;s obviously going to turn it into a restaurant:

    he’ll call it:
    ‘UP, UP AND BUFFET’!!!!!

    folk art is everywhere, for all you haters out there. hobbies take on all shapes and sizes. just look around. paul bunyan statues, bottle houses, lego CN Towers…..etc etc etc

    Reply
  38. -____-
    Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    great man chasing his dreams

    Reply
  39. China Bound
    Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    Well, I must admit I have mixed feelings about this. And sorry about bragging, but I am wondering if I am the only pilot who has waded in on this.

    I think it is sad that the average person cannot learn to fly in China. The money that this farmer spent on building this “airplane” would get him about half way to getting his PPL (Private Pilot License). What I found hilarious was when our secretary at school told me why I would not be allowed to fly here. “There are too many tall buildings.” I almost choked but never responded.

    On the other hand, I am thinking this project was just a complete waste of time and money. Of course, I come from an aviation family whose history dates back to 1915. As a young boy, my father saw a zeppelin shot down over England. He later flew in Mosquitoes in WW II. My uncle was a fighter pilot. Another uncle was killed flying in the RAF. My wife flew aerobatics.

    Sorry, guy, most aircraft are not made of steel. Unless we are talking about the Sturmovik, the Soviet tank killer.

    The first person to break the stranglehold on the obsession against civil aviation in China, will become a multi-millionaire.

    Reply
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