Similar planes comparison charts

Thanks to the specifications of similar planes, the range of dimensions can be narrowed, discarding the maximum and minimum values and adapting them to an increase in weight to up to 500 grams approximately, due to the added weight of the camera system.

Similar planes configuration chart

  (more models were checked but these are the most significant)

The sizes depend on the payload, which depends on the mission, the purpose that the plane is designed for.
As the plane’s purpose is diverse, let’s just say it must be able to climb to 100 meters at least, fly for 30 minutes to 1 hour non-stop with turns, ups and downs, and land smoothly. The takeoff can be made by hand-launch. The range depends strictly on the antenna that will be transmitting images from the camera.

Components from similar planes

Now for these components, an in-depth analysis with different models for each component is required, to know which ones are the most suitable ones for the mission.

Similar planes specs

The fact of not having a single idea about how radio controlled planes work, an inner study is required. Several features and specifications of these planes are going to be compared from existing planes that match the glider type.

Looking around the most famous websites for RC planes, there are a few that have the most similar configuration. It doesn’t matter if they are not designed for FPV because this is not such a difficult implementation to a glider compared to taking an FPV plane and transforming it into a powered glider.

This large powered glider (2.4 m):

Airfield Giant Glider
www.nitroplanes.com/95a289-giantglider-kit.html
Flight test VIDEO with explanations: youtu.be/WagA3Ywvo40

·        Wingspan: 2400 mm

·        Length: 1518 mm

·        Flying weight: 2250 – 2300 g

·        Propeller version:

o   Motor:  Out runner brushless AT3010-920KV

o   ESC: 40A Brushless ESC

o   Servo: 17g*6

o   Propeller: 8*6inch

·        Ducted fan version (much more power):

o   Motor:  Out runner brushless D2830B-3000KV;

o   ESC: 40A Brushless ESC

o   Servo: 17g*6

o   Ducted Fan: 65mm

Another one but smaller (1.4 m):

Airfield Wingsurfer X2
www.nitroplanes.com/36a11-wingsurfer-x2-aagreen-rtf-24g.html

Material: EPO
Wingspan: 1400 mm
Length: 915 mm
Wing area: 26 dm²
Wing load: 25 g/dm²
Flying weight: 650 g
Thrust force: 600 g
Drive system: 2627 KV1950 Outrunner Brushless Motor
LiPo battery: 3S 11.1V 1300mAh
ESC: 20ABrushless speed controller
Servo: 4*9g servos
Propeller: 5*5 (3-Blade)
Control system: 4CH 2.4GHz Multifunctional Transmitter

An intermediate wingspan plane (2 m):

Aerosky Robosurfer
http://www.nitroplanes.com/05a81-robosurfer-rtf-24g.html

Material: Durable EPO
Wing span: 2000 mm
Length: 1350 mm
Weight: 1350 g
Height: 285 mm
Total surface area: approx. 46.3 dm²
Prop Size: 8*7  2 Blade
Transmitter: 6CH
Battery:11.1v 2200mAh(20C)  (Li-polymer battery Maximum 11.1v(3s) 8000mAh battery)
Servo:6*17g,1.8kg/cm,0.18s/60
Motor:3536-KV1200 Powerful Out runner Brushless Motor
ESC: 30A Brushless ESC

Same wingspan (2 m) but with an EDF (electric ducted fan):

Art-Tech ASK-21
www.nitroplanes.com/at-21337-ask21-jet-rtf-24g.html

Wingspan: 2000 mm
Length: 1000 mm
Aerofoil: RG-15
Weight: 965 g
R/C System: EFLY-4BⅡ 2.4GHz
Motor: AE2810 out runner brushless, KV4100, improved 64 ducted fan
ESC: 40A brushless
Battery: 11.1V，1800mAh/3s Li-Po
Servo: 9g×4

The largest (2.5 m) but with front motor:

Art-Tech Diamond 2500
http://www.nitroplanes.com/at-22093-diamond2500-rtf-24g.html

Wing span: 2500 mm
Length: 1500 mm
Wing Area: 55 dm²
Wing loading: 35g/dm²
Weight: 1900 g
Thrust rate: 0.85
Time for staying in the sky: > 30mins
Motor: Out runner brushless motor C3720
Battery: Li-Po battery 11.1V,2200 mAh 20c
ESC: 40A
Receiver: 6CH 2.4Ghz
Transmitter: 4 CH 2.4Ghz
Material: All in EPO but for the spinner cone (ABS+Al and folding propeller)

An example of a wide wingspan (2.45 m) with elevator in wing:

Air Wing Pioneer
www.nitroplanes.com/36a01-2450-pioneer-white-arf.html

Material: EPO
Wingspan: 2450 mm
Length: 800 mm

Motor: 3536-KV1000 Brushless Outrunner Motor 

ESC: 40A

Servo: 5x 9g servos

Propeller: 2-bladed Folding Prop
Battery: 11.1V, 3S 2600mAh 25C Li-polymer and Lipo Charger
Control system: 4 CH 2.4GHz Transmitter and Receiver

Long flight (1 h) glider (2 m):

Art-Tech Minimoa

www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__12885__Minimoa_Motor_Glider_EPO_2000mm_PNF_.html

DST-1200 Outrunner Brushless Motor

Long flight time clocked at 1 hour

Light weight EPO Foam Body

Battery 11.1v 3s 1300mAh

Length: 980 mm

Wingspan: 2000 mm

Weight 720 g

Servos 9g*4

ESC 20A

Wing has twin reinforcing spars and 1 cross member spar.

A Reaper-like plane (2.5 m):

Reaper drone
www.nitroplanes.com/projet-drone-2500mm-kit.html

Wingspan: 2500 mm

Weight: 2500 ~ 2700 g

Length: 1080 mm

Wing Area: 32.5 dm2

Wing Loading: 76 ~ 83g/dm²

Airfoil: Eppler 374 Modify

Motor Diameter: 38 ~ 42 mm

ESC: 40 ~ 50A

Propeller: 2 Blade 11x6 ~ 12x8 3 Blade 9x6 ~11x6

Battery: LiPo 3S/3500mAh ~ 4S/4000mAh
Reinforced carbon fiber wing structure

Another front propeller (2 m):

Phase 3 Phoenix II
www.hobbypeople.net/index.php/rc-planes/airplanes/rc-gliders/phase-3-phoenix-ii-epp-glider-kit-w-bl-motor-and-prop.html

Wing Span: 2.02 mm

Length: 1.21 mm

Flying Weight: 950 g approx.

18A BL ESC

11.1 V  1500-2200 battery
9g Servos (4)
EPP

A very strong plane (2 m):

Phoenix 2000
www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=17227

Wingspan: 2 m
Length: 1160 mm
Flying weight: 980 g
Servos: 4 x 9g
Motor: Brushless 2815/1050Kv with a 3mm shaft
ESC: 30A
4 x 9g Servos
Battery: LiPoly 1300~1800mAh 3S
Main wing requires 1 servo per aileron, possibility of adding flaps, the two wing halves have a carbon fiber rod, wings and tail are made from tough EPO foam, the fuselage is made from a really strong blow molded nylon skin (more expensive).

The most expensive and heavier due to design and performance (2.16 m):

Multiplex Solius
www.hobbypeople.net/index.php/rc-planes/airplanes/rc-gliders/multiplex-solius-glider-rr-w-power-pack.html

3516-0850 Brushless Motor
40 Amp ESC

4 nano-servos and 12 x 6 Folding Propeller

Weight: 1450 g

Length: 1100 mm

Wingspan: 2159 mm

Wing Area: 40.7 cm²

Wing Loading: 35.6 g/dm²

One 3S 2200mAh LiPo battery + charger

Innovative tubular spar technology makes the wing impervious to stress

A fast sailplane (2 m):

SMM Raptor 2000
www.hobbypeople.net/index.php/rc-planes/airplanes/rc-gliders/smm-raptor-2000-powered-sailplane-with-electronics-package.html

Fiberglass fuselage, wing features molded leading edge and built-up trailing edge

9g micro servos x 6

1000kv brushless motor w/folding propeller

40 Amp Brushless ESC

3S 11.1V 2200mAh LiPo Battery

Wingspan: 2000 mm

Length: 1060 mm

Wing Type: S-4083

Wing Area: 32 dm²

Wing Loading: 25 to 35 g/dm²

Flying Weight: 800 g

5-Channel (extra flaps)

Setting the plane configuration

Similar types of planes (check the position of the wings, stabilizers, motor and camera):

Bananahobby.com

Hobbyexpress.com

site.nitroplanes.com

mikeysrc.com/MRC_FPV_Camera_Plane.pdf

sailplanes.flytodream.com

Example of real powered glider design, sysmcape.com

Avinc.com (look for Wasp III, used by US Marines)

 Let’s make the first draft of the plane shape:

The fuselage is going to be as thin as possible, gaining thickness in the front part, where the pilot would be in a large scale glider but instead this place is going to hold the battery and other electronic components such as the PCB, receiver and the camera. The front part must be shaped as much aerodynamically friendly as possible. This wider part is also where the wings will be attached to the body. 

Fuselage width must be sized depending on the battery+PCB+receiver+camera size.

The wings will be placed in a medium height (relative to the fuselage bottom). Each wing will have just one control surface, the aileron, placed on the exterior part to create more momentum and a winglet in case further study proves they increase the aerodynamic efficiency. Ailerons can work as the missing flaps and no airbrakes/spoilers are needed for this plane due to low flight speeds.
Gyroscopes for plane stabilization are another option to be yet determined.
No dihedral or sweep angle is considered necessary at first, improving the manufacturing process.

Further study of spiral mode and stall when climbing or turning.

In the empennage, a high horizontal stabilizer plus elevator configuration will be chosen, to avoid turbulence interference created by the wings.
As in most planes, the vertical stabilizer will be just one vertical part with the rudder at the rear.

No landing gear is needed as it will take-off with the hand-launch technique, but a landing device might be useful to decrease the impact force.
The motor position is more variable in the design. One possibility is to place it at the very front of the fuselage, making possible a direct spool connection. One first idea is to make it bendable with the air flow to reduce drag in case of unpowered flight and reduce the chance of damage when touching the ground.
Another option to avoid motor damage and don’t interfere with the camera is to place the motor on the top of the middle fuselage section. In that case, the empennage configuration must be changed to a low stabilizer and the wings should be moved upper.
The third option is to place the motor at fuselage-height but only with a twin boom configuration, as in this design:

Wikipedia.com (twin-boom aircraft)

But this is a more complex design, so it’s not desirable.

The fourth option is to place is at the very end of the empennage, as in the MQ-9 Reaper UAV:

Wikipedia.com (MQ-9 Reaper)

The last valid option is to use 2 motors, each one mounted on the wing (better below it), so they don’t interfere with the line on sight and they increase the performance of the aircraft. But for a powered glider, one motor is good enough.


Several options are taken into account with a CAD model (using Autodesk Inventor Professional 2011 Free Student Version):

 Placing motor at the front and changing wing configuration:

 Changing motor to the back of the plane to avoid camera obstruction:

Changing motor to the center to increase stability and avoid the camera, which will be placed at the very front, like from the pilot’s view.

Where the motor is placed affects the wings and elevator too, because they must not interfere with each other in stabilized flight.
If the engine is at top height, elevator must be at the bottom so the turbulence from the air passing through the engine doesn’t affect it.
The wings turbulence mustn’t affect it either, so wings will be placed at top height of the fuselage, just before the engine so they don’t interfere.

(Fuselage is yet to be shaped in order to carry the payload while creating low drag)

With the shape almost fixed, the size is the next thing to be determined.
An important parameter to be taking into account is the transportation of the airplane. It must be designed to fit in an average car. It can have less wingspan and length than that of a car’s interior or it can be disassembled into several pieces (dividing the fuselage in two parts or cut out fuselage and wings).
These are the most restrictive dimensions, restricted by the manufacturing process, not by transportation means.
         

 Dimensions in mm

To fit in a car it should be around 2.5 meters wide and around 1 meter long.  This is the most compact possible way it could fit, but still doesn’t.

Either it is reduced or dismantled before travel.

Index and first ideas

This is the index of the project's process:

Preliminary design:

• Background
• Similar aircrafts
• Objectives and specifications

Calculations:

• Take-off weight
• Polar
• Performance
• Wings
• Empennage
• Fuselage
•  Centering
• Static and dynamic stability
• Materials
• Flight control system
•  Economic study

Analysis:

• Solid modelling (NX Unigraphics)
• CFD (Vortex Lattice, XFLR5, ANSYS Fluent)
• Structural analysis (ANSYS Structural and Composite PrePost)

Manufacturing:

• Materials
•  Mold
• Machining
• Assembly
• Finish

Flight tests


______________________________________________________________________________

(Written on October 17, 2014)

First steps, conceptual design:

For the aircraft design several ideas are going to be taken from many different designs of RC planes in the market.

This is to start modelling the fuselage form and the aircraft configuration for the wings, empennage and power plant.

The specification of this plane is for recreational flight, nor acrobatic neither competition. One important characteristic is the high aerodynamic efficiency, with increased wing surface to act as a glider when it has gained altitude.
Another possibility to be studied is the implementation of a camera in the fuselage to transmit live the view from the cockpit, which can be seen in a screen in the controller. The maximum wingspan is set to 3 meters because of manufacturing reasons. The plane has a constant weight payload consisting of the signal receiver, the battery, the control system (PCB, servomechanisms, gyroscopes) and an electric motor. This engine can be used for climbing or retake flight in case of stall or quick loss of altitude.
High aerodynamic efficiency allows a slower flight speed, better for professional aerial filming, and it counteracts the effect of adding a camera on the fuselage, which creates a lot of drag. If the purpose is to record the view, larger wings make it more steady, regardless of using the motor or not.

The point is for increasing its versatility. It mixes the advantages of a glider to an RC and it also adds the multiple uses of a first-person view flight. Away from the plane, a radio transmitter system will be needed too.

Wikipedia: “Powered gliders have recently seen an increase in popularity. By combining the efficient wing size and wide speed envelope of a glider airframe with an electric motor, it is possible to achieve long flight times and high carrying capacity, as well as glide in any suitable location regardless of thermals or lift. A common method of maximizing flight duration is to quickly fly a powered glider upwards to a chosen altitude and descending in an unpowered glide. Folding propellers which reduce drag (as well as the risk of breaking the propeller) are standard. Powered gliders built with stability in mind and capable of aerobatics, high speed flight and sustained vertical flight are classified as 'Hot-liners'. 'Warm-liners' are powered craft with similar abilities but less extreme thrust capability. Many powered beginner craft are based upon or considered borderline gliders.”

A good use a sailplane with a camera could have is to spy areas from above without the noise of the engine alerting those on the ground. As it is a glider it can stay in the air during long periods of time saving battery and avoiding noise alert.

Wikipedia: “First-person view (FPV) flight is a type of remote-control flying that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves mounting a small video camera and television transmitter on an RC aircraft and flying by means of a live video down-link, commonly displayed on video goggles or a portable LCD screen. When flying FPV, the pilot sees from the aircraft's perspective, and does not even have to look at the model. As a result, FPV aircraft can be flown well beyond visual range, limited only by the range of the remote control and video transmitter. Video transmitters typically operate at a power level between 200 mW and 1500 mW. The most common frequencies used for video transmission are 900 MHz, 1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.^[6] Specialized long-range UHF control systems operating at 433 MHz (for amateur radio licensees only) or 869 MHz^[6] are commonly used to achieve greater control range, while the use of directional, high-gain antennas increases video range. Sophisticated setups are capable of achieving a range of 20–30 miles or more.^[7] FPV aircraft are frequently used for aerial photography and videography, and many videos of FPV flights can be found on popular video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.

A basic FPV system consists of a camera, video transmitter, video receiver, and a display. More advanced setups commonly add in specialized hardware, including on-screen displays with GPS navigation and flight data, stabilization systems, and autopilot devices with "return to home" capability—allowing the aircraft to fly back to its starting point on its own in the event of signal loss. On-board cameras can be equipped with a pan and tilt mount, which when coupled with video goggles and "head tracking" devices creates a truly immersive, first-person experience, as if the pilot was actually sitting in the cockpit of the RC aircraft.^[6]

Both helicopters and fixed-wing RC aircraft are used for FPV flight. The most commonly chosen airframes for FPV planes are larger models with sufficient payload space for the video equipment and large wings capable of supporting the extra weight. Pusher-propeller planes are preferred so that the propeller is not in view of the camera. Flying wing designs are also popular for FPV, as they provide a good combination of large wing surface area, speed, maneuverability, and gliding ability”.

State range.

State materials.

First things first

This is a project of study, design and manufacturing of a radio controlled airplane, whose main characteristics are a high aerodynamic efficiency (that of a glider, with no larger wingspan than 3 meters) and an on-board camera with a transmitter for live broadcasting to the pilot on the ground (also called FPV, first-person view flight).
Due to the iterations made while studying the plane configuration, it may end up being a drone Predator; only time will tell.

The project starts with the definition of phases, the first one (already completed) consists of searching for information that may concern every aspect related to this idea of plane and its systems.
This will lead to the most important part, choosing the specifications and objectives of the plane, its components and the proper configuration.

Each week the blog will be updated with the news about the progress.