Airframe for UAV

[jschall]

Looking for an ideal UAV airframe.
Budget for airframe, servos and power system will be around $400-600.

Currently I have an autonomous e-flite apprentice.

I want something with the following qualities:
- Fast (60-80+ mph)
- Efficient. Long endurance and range. Should be able to throttle back and fly slow for more than 1 hour.
- The combination of speed and efficiency means it should get it's speed from aerodynamics, not from having an insane motor that eats a battery in less than five minutes at full throttle.
- Stable within reason (I have to be able to safely land this thing in full manual mode with no stabilization. I haven't flown anything hotter than the micro p-51, but I would certainly be able to.)
- Should have room for my electronics and carry them easily. I'm thinking this bird should have a 4.5-5.5' wingspan.

Ideally, foam construction. If not, I'd still like to avoid carbon fiber as much as possible due to it's RF properties.

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi
Predators are back in stock at Nitro Planes
How about one of those
http://www.nitroplanes.com/4eluavrqprra.html
Take care
Yours Hank

[Larry3215]

Im curious, what are the current FAA rules for UAV operation?

You're not operating within the AMA rules/guidelines (within line of site), so that puts you back under FAA control - but I havent heard what the latest rules are. Im at least a year out of date.

[jschall]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Im curious, what are the current FAA rules for UAV operation?

You're not operating within the AMA rules/guidelines (within line of site), so that puts you back under FAA control - but I havent heard what the latest rules are. Im at least a year out of date.

I don't think I ever said I was operating out of LOS.
FAA has an advisory circular stating that RC airplanes should be below 400'. Don't know what else it says.

I just figure the airplane is no heavier, faster or harder than the average goose or buzzard, and I don't think they follow FAA or AMA regs.

I'm nowhere near civilization, as well.

[Larry3215]

You used the words "endurance and range" which implies long distance and out of site. Plus you mentioned autonomous - which is also outside the AMA guidelines.

If your flying beyond line of site or the plane is autonomous then your under the FAA rules for UAV's - not the AMA.

To be technical - the FAA has control of our planes at all times - no mater where or how you fly. They allow us to operate as a self governing thing under AMA rules.

But that only applies as long as we are staying within those AMA rules.
Sounds to me like you're not following the AMA rules, thus my question.

Being out away from civilization doesnt enter into the rules question - but it is safer.

[jschall]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

You used the words "endurance and range" which implies long distance and out of site. Plus you mentioned autonomous - which is also outside the AMA guidelines.

If your flying beyond line of site or the plane is autonomous then your under the FAA rules for UAV's - not the AMA.

To be technical - the FAA has control of our planes at all times - no mater where or how you fly. They allow us to operate as a self governing thing under AMA rules.

But that only applies as long as we are staying within those AMA rules.
Sounds to me like you're not following the AMA rules, thus my question.

Being out away from civilization doesnt enter into the rules question - but it is safer.

Autonomy isn't out of AMA guidelines, as long as you can regain manual control.

Anyway, I'm not willing to discuss the rules, which I have operated within thus far, any further. I asked a question and you derailed my thread.

[jschall]

Originally Posted by kenchiroalpha

Hi
Predators are back in stock at Nitro Planes
How about one of those
http://www.nitroplanes.com/4eluavrqprra.html
Take care
Yours Hank

Looks very aerodynamically unclean. Has unfaired wheels and no retracts.

[jap71173]

Originally Posted by kenchiroalpha

Hi
Predators are back in stock at Nitro Planes
How about one of those
http://www.nitroplanes.com/4eluavrqprra.html
Take care
Yours Hank

Originally Posted by jschall

Looking for an ideal UAV airframe.
Budget for airframe, servos and power system will be around $400-600.

Currently I have an autonomous e-flite apprentice.

I want something with the following qualities:
- Fast (60-80+ mph)
- Efficient. Long endurance and range. Should be able to throttle back and fly slow for more than 1 hour.
- The combination of speed and efficiency means it should get it's speed from aerodynamics, not from having an insane motor that eats a battery in less than five minutes at full throttle.
- Stable within reason (I have to be able to safely land this thing in full manual mode with no stabilization. I haven't flown anything hotter than the micro p-51, but I would certainly be able to.)
- Should have room for my electronics and carry them easily. I'm thinking this bird should have a 4.5-5.5' wingspan.

Ideally, foam construction. If not, I'd still like to avoid carbon fiber as much as possible due to it's RF properties.

Hiya Hank, funny you mention Nitroplanes.com because this bird has been in my Wishlist for sometime now and I was just looking at it today and thought i should just order it already!

your friend,

-John

[kenchiroalpha]

Originally Posted by jap71173

Hiya Hank, funny you mention Nitroplanes.com because this bird has been in my Wishlist for sometime now and I was just looking at it today and thought i should just order it already!

your friend,

-John

Hi John
Looks great
Looking forward to your review
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[Nitro Blast]

We have a club member here that has gotten into the SkyHunter's.




The fuse interior is CAVERNOUS!

He's sporting an APM 2.5 and this thing does 20 minutes on 3500 MAh

[darkfire3814]

Skywaler is a great plane. But i Have issue with your first post. You are not going to find somethign to do 60-80 mph and last an hour unless you convert a real life sized air plane lol Speed and distance dont match.

[geobduffy]

Originally Posted by darkfire3814

You are not going to find somethign to do 60-80 mph and last an hour unless you convert a real life sized air plane lol Speed and distance dont match.

I agree. I have a couple skywalkers that can cruise on 4.5-5A at around 16-22 MPH and fly for 45min or so on 5000mah but they max out around 36-40MPH.

This is a fully autonomous drone/UAV with waypoint mission planning, telemetry radios, FPV and even a mapping camera (sometimes). It also has several fail safe options, stabilization modes, RTL, and of course manual flight modes. If I fly out of RC range, it engages fail safe and flies back to me automatically.

See here:

YouTube Video

It could be lightened to fly longer but not much faster without drastically shortening flight time. It's really fun stuff!