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:

If you're looking for something like the classic Pioneer UAV, with a twin tail and a pusher prop, you might want to consider starting with this Skymaster RTF. Skip the front motor (put your cameras there instead), double the size of the rear one, and you're pretty close. We've got one and the plane looks beautifully made. We haven't flown it yet, but the dimensions are encouraging.

[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,.

Bradly , the choices differ as much on budget as people who fly them and where. But even before that, what is most recommended is to learn to fly Rc planes very comfortably and have enough still stick time with bit of 3D. During your course of DIYdroneing , you will learn that , UAVs don't exactly do things you want some times and good flying skills help a lot to save money(to keep every thing in one pc). Also good knowledge of local ordinance/regulations is a must as we don't want you to get into trouble risking your money and other people too. If you read enough of this forum , you will notice that there are atleast 10 different choices for almost every thing. So the best any one of us can do is to is point to a post where some one is sharing his experience doing it. you can search and look up too.Do a bit of reading/research , make up your mind on each items/modules and share it here as a list you think suits you. Some one here will definitely help/guide you with it. This forum has one of the /biggest most experienced experts in related techs lurking in back ground.

Here is what I have used to learn DIY UAV flying.
Airframe : Hobbico nexstar EP mini. later migrated to gas powered extra 330.
Power : LiPo batteries. Later gas/petrol
Auto pilot: One of the two great options available above ( see the menu on the top).
No video tx to start with. But later it was 1.3 ghz 700 mW with remzibi OSD.Cheap Portable dvd player with 7" screen which has AV input.
Telemetry : 900 Mhz 1000 ( AC4790).
GCS software. Ardu GCS ( free to download here) running on standard vista Laptop., earth google, internet conection etc
RC radio: JR 3810 with Spectrum 2.4 module.
GPS : Ublox 5 available here too.
Range of flying : Not more than visual ( < 500 mts).
RC skills: enough to keep most of flying objects up there and bring it back in one pc.
Altitude: no more than 200 mts( 50 mts most of the time).
Most of the RC stuff is what I had for long time and so it not in UAV budget.
Budget : Some thing you don't want your wife to know about. It is growing pain due to the addiction ( yes Diy UAV hobby is almost an Addiction and every one here will vouch for it). But my ball park figure is 1000$ for decent working setup( not inclusive of regular RC stuff). Hope this helps. cheers and good luck.

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

Distributor

Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk December 30, 2010 at 3:09pm

Hi Ben,

I don't understand your question, you are building a uav with no auto pilot? Why are you asking if it is acceptable to do so?, a uav without an auto pilot is just like a normal RC plane? Maybe I have missed your point?

Regards

Martin
Ben December 30, 2010 at 1:14pm

Hey guys... I am new here to DIY Drones, and I have a few questions about the airframe selection. I am building an amateur UAV for my senior project. The only difference is, I am using no autopilot. Is this acceptable?

I ordered a Nexstar Mini EP to do the modifications to. Is the smaller 44" wingspan a problem?

Thanks!
Bradley J. Carr June 19, 2010 at 3:15pm

Thank you Morli for taking the time to explain things. I have a few airplanes. I think the trainer I bought about two years ago is what I would like to use with a bigger fuel cell. I can fly so this is something else that would make it more fun to fly.

Oh and not married but still have a budget.

Thank you for all your info. It will give me somewhere to start. I am using the Alpha trainer. with a JR Radio. Everything else I have is Futaba 2.4 G.
Admin

Morli June 18, 2010 at 2:25pm

And a nice roomy new EPO airframe called skywalker here.
Admin

Morli June 18, 2010 at 1:59pm

Bradly , the choices differ as much on budget as people who fly them and where. But even before that, what is most recommended is to learn to fly Rc planes very comfortably and have enough still stick time with bit of 3D. During your course of DIYdroneing , you will learn that , UAVs don't exactly do things you want some times and good flying skills help a lot to save money(to keep every thing in one pc). Also good knowledge of local ordinance/regulations is a must as we don't want you to get into trouble risking your money and other people too. If you read enough of this forum , you will notice that there are atleast 10 different choices for almost every thing. So the best any one of us can do is to is point to a post where some one is sharing his experience doing it. you can search and look up too.Do a bit of reading/research , make up your mind on each items/modules and share it here as a list you think suits you. Some one here will definitely help/guide you with it. This forum has one of the /biggest most experienced experts in related techs lurking in back ground.

Here is what I have used to learn DIY UAV flying.
Airframe : Hobbico nexstar EP mini. later migrated to gas powered extra 330.
Power : LiPo batteries. Later gas/petrol
Auto pilot: One of the two great options available above ( see the menu on the top).
No video tx to start with. But later it was 1.3 ghz 700 mW with remzibi OSD.Cheap Portable dvd player with 7" screen which has AV input.
Telemetry : 900 Mhz 1000 ( AC4790).
GCS software. Ardu GCS ( free to download here) running on standard vista Laptop., earth google, internet conection etc
RC radio: JR 3810 with Spectrum 2.4 module.
GPS : Ublox 5 available here too.
Range of flying : Not more than visual ( < 500 mts).
RC skills: enough to keep most of flying objects up there and bring it back in one pc.
Altitude: no more than 200 mts( 50 mts most of the time).
Most of the RC stuff is what I had for long time and so it not in UAV budget.
Budget : Some thing you don't want your wife to know about. It is growing pain due to the addiction ( yes Diy UAV hobby is almost an Addiction and every one here will vouch for it). But my ball park figure is 1000$ for decent working setup( not inclusive of regular RC stuff). Hope this helps. cheers and good luck.
Bradley J. Carr June 18, 2010 at 12:49pm

I have been there. I just didn't know if anybody had a list of things I would have to buy in order to make it work. or how much it will cost.
Moderator

Sgt Ric June 18, 2010 at 12:34pm

Read up on it here.
Bradley J. Carr June 18, 2010 at 12:30pm

If you already have the plane. How much does it really cost for this all to work?
Ahmed Musa May 21, 2010 at 9:47am

Hello guys and thank you for your helpful comments. Well I am totally new to this I need a bit help from you.

1) My budget from $800 to $1,000 for a R/C petrol aircraft as a start to build my UAV. I will need it to be ready to take the weight of a GPS. Wireless to transmit data. Video Camera and the default payloads for any UAV.

2) What is the maximum range I can go with it. Am not a communication expert am still learning the sginals but wit hthe current affordable remote controls and receiver and transmitter device in the aircraft what is the maximum range? can it be 500m or 1Km? or can I go more?!

3) I need a full list of kits I need. I see a guy suggested SIG Kadet Senior aircraft, I loved it well beside the body can you list the complete list I need e.g.:

1- Engine, type and power or a link to it :)
2- Where I can buy the body from
3- Radio kits I need it
4- other stuff am not aware of it

Thank you for reading my question am sure u got bored lol. Looking for your help. :)
Mark Whitehorn February 21, 2010 at 3:47pm

The Telemaster is a good design for a stable airplane with good payload capability. It's available from Hobby Lobby in kit and ARF form with 4,6,8 and 12 foot spans.

of 5

This reply was deleted.