Gender
Male
About
Location
Birmingham, AL
Please tell us a bit about your UAV interest
I've been flying full sized aircraft for a few years, and the expense is keeping me out of the cockpit, never mind the costs of being able to do it commercially. Backing off into UAVs allows me to continue to stoke my love for things that fly, and I'm hoping the regulatory environment settles down so that a civilian UAV industry can flourish.
Hometown:
Birmingham AL
Activity Feed
"I guess it depends on what kind of functionality you're looking to keep on the ground. If only power, you'd try to get the lightest cable that will handle the current, as the bird will have to lift whatever length corresponds to the…"
"This might be relatively immune to FAA regs, for a while anyway, as it's really a powered kite, and not a free-flying aircraft. I thought of something like this as a deployable eye-in-the-sky for live streaming during active weather periods. I think…"
"I have two planes I'm wanting to convert: one is a PT40 I'm looking to make a low-budget mini-Gemini type plane, and an Ultra-Stick 40 I was wanting to use for something similar to what you've described above. The airframe is already complete, but I…"
"This is interesting. My CAP squadron is in the process of completing a STEM program that included a Calypso. I can't modify it until I've been able to arrange for a field day to allow the cadets to fly the stock aircraft, but would like to use it as…"
"Any work on this lately? Seems like it would be a relatively light and non-mechanically-complex alternative to tilt rotors and the like. Though... weight would be more limited, so maybe not a heavy duty uav, but I still like the idea."
"I'm the new Aerospace Education Officer at our composite squadron, and the entry-level path we're taking is to use the R/C STEM kit (check with your AEO for that), which includes a foamie trainer, r/c simulator (RealFlight), and a few transmitters.…"
"Once the rules are in place, I can see this (and have thought about it extensively too) being useful in venues where a full sized aircraft isn't needed or wanted.
You'll have to fly closer to the viewers, as your banner won't be nearly as big as…"
You'll have to fly closer to the viewers, as your banner won't be nearly as big as…"
"If light enough, I can see a harder coating allowing for a smooth lifting body shape. The lift fans could be set in vertical tunnels (ducted/valved to lateral tunnels to change thrust vector?) allowing for very clean lines."
"For an unmanned light airship, not covered in highly flammable envelope material (as was the Hindenberg), I don't think Hydrogen is such a bad idea for this. Better lift, can be generated, cheaper... Even back in the "bad" old days, the Zepps had a…"
"Money and power. Bureaucracies live to grow, and will use any excuse to annex an activity in order to do so. Heck, one day, they'll regulate jumping rope, if the practitioner doesn't leave at least one foot on the ground. Paper airplanes? "You got a…"
"Depending on the size of the building, the ability to hold position above the place would allow a gimbal mounted camera to move about and take enough photos to cover the entire roof. There may need to be some movement if the building is larger, has…"
"Says a lot for the narrow-mindedness of some folks, who are willing to legislate away the use of such useful technology in order to assuage the fears of the folks who don't understand it.
If there is already a law against peeking through windows,…"
If there is already a law against peeking through windows,…"
"I would think, in peacetime, you'd still want a manned machine to show up for the patient. The aircrew isn't just there to pilot the helicopter, but to manage the people who invariably show up when one lands, or at least it'll keep the curious back…"
"I just inherited a couple of airframes, a PT40 and an Ultra Stick. I figure I'll strip the aged MDS power out of the PT and convert it to electric (easier than re-plumbing and resurrecting a questionable engine anyway, I'm guessing). I'll fly it for…"
"I remember reading a magazine article years ago (probably Kitplanes) about some ranchers who used ultralights and very light airplanes... and the occasional light helicopter to save many many cowboy-hours during roundups and checking fence.
They…"
They…"
"Awesome demonstration of what people can do with UAVs besides blowing stuff up. I can see a swarm of these converging on a disaster area, simultaneously delivering emergency supplies and documenting/recording the locations of those who need help.…"
