Five good planes to convert to a UAV
I get this question all the time: what's a good plane to turn into a UAV? The answer is that it depends on your needs, your budget and your RC skills. But here are some good electric candidates:
For RC beginners:
The NextStar (see above) is roomy, slow-flying and comes with everything you need (including a RC flight simulator). It even has its own rudimentary flight-stabilization system with a Futaba PA-2 optical co-pilot.
For DIY'ers on a budget:
The $110 SuperStar is a nice-flying four-channel plane with enough room for an autopilot and cameras strapped below. The ARF kit comes with a brushed motor and NiCad batteries, which are enough to get you started. When you're ready, you can upgrade to a brushless motor and LiPos. This is the plane we use for GeoCrawler 2 and will also be the basic platform for our ArduPilot-based UAV. You can hand launch it in a park, or take it off from a runway at an airfield. It's tough and can handle wind. All and all, a really comfortable plane to work with, especially once you upgrade the motor and battery.
[Note. This plane appears to be discontinued. You might want to check out the NexSTAR Mini EP as a replacement. It's not quite as good, as it's more expensive and has less interior room, but it does the trick]
For those looking for long flight times:
The Aero-Master is a powered glider with a pusher prop, which means no propellers in the way of your cameras. This is the aircraft used by Marcus UAV.
For those who want to carry heavy, high-resolution cameras, with unobstructed views:
[This one appears to no longer be available, although a larger gas-powered one still is]
For an all-around great first UAV platform:
EasyStar. The classic. Easy to fly, hard to break and plenty of room for electronics. Works best with a brushless motor upgrade.
An even cheaper variation on this, with the helpful addition of ailerons, is the Dynam HawkSky. Well worth considering as an EasyStar alternative,.
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Comment by Wyliest on July 11, 2008 at 12:28am -
The list looks about right. I know it's easy to use a off the shelf plane, but it seems like there should by better solutions, then most of whats out there in the way of hobby RC kits.
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Comment by Jack Crossfire on July 11, 2008 at 1:31am -
Have a feeling the bare flying wing may make an appearance on this list one day. The absolute simplest in fabrication. Move all the rules to software.
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Comment by Rory Paul on July 11, 2008 at 6:18am -
I personally like the Skymaster if you can get your autopilot working with two speed controllers it gives you some redundancy having a push pull setup. If one speed controller or motor goes you do not have to deal with asymmetric thrust issues.
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Comment by Cory on July 11, 2008 at 7:23am -
I have one of the Nexstars, and it is a fine aircraft. Lots of room in the fuselage. Also a BIG bonus with the Nexstar is the included simulator software. Hook the transmitter to the pc, and destroy thousands of dollars of virtual aircraft in minutes. I spent about 12 hours on the sim before I ever went to a flying field, and it was a massive help. I highly recommend it for RC newbs. It has also proven to be a popular aircraft at the flying field. Many of the experienced pilots have asked to fly it, and have been impressed by the aircraft. So far, I have managed not destroy it, though I did rip the firewall off on a rough landing. oops.
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Moderator Comment by Sgt Ric on July 11, 2008 at 9:56am -
I have 2 of the EasyStars for FPV flights and the NitroModels Cessna 337 Skymaster 81" (big brother to the one above) for my UAV project.
There are some design/build issues with the 81" Skymaster (things like the wing tubes, and no riudder)
I haven't found the right powerplant for the Skymaster yet, but I'm sure it'll be some honkin' big brushless. (there's enough room for a car battery, so amps ain't gonna be a problem!)
Chris is right on with this list.
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Comment by James Ross on July 11, 2008 at 4:30pm -
A lot of universities are using SIG Kadet Senior aircraft because of the relatively large internal space and 7 pound payload capacity (with a bit of modification). If you're looking for long endurance or to carry a lot of electronics, this is a good aircraft.
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Comment by Cory on July 11, 2008 at 4:35pm
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What a nice plane, I am a big sucker for the translucent covering. :D
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Comment by Keith on July 11, 2008 at 4:49pm -
Nice list. Its great you commit your time just to make this information easier to find!
I plan on using a Sig LT-25. Just about the right size for my motor, but the fact that its a tail dragger is going to make calibrating the gyros on start up harder.
Anyone have experience with the LT-25 in terms of a UAV?
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3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on July 11, 2008 at 4:50pm -
James,
Thanks for the reminder of the popularity of the SIG Kadet for UAVs. I should have mentioned in my intro that I was just covering electrics, which we prefer for most purposes for the usual reasons (noise, safety, reliability, lack of mess, etc). But the gas-powered Kadet is great for heavier payloads and longer missions.
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Comment by Genesis Factor on July 12, 2008 at 1:05pm -
I'm really liking the skymaster design actually...if it only had a longer wingspan...
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