Glider project

iDenTiTy

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Hi guys,

I wonder if someone can help me.

I am looking for a remote controlled glider. A glider that has some sort of propulsion (electric motor etc.)

I need an aircraft that has a long wingspan (similar to U2 spy plane), and carries an electric motor to propel it slightly. :confused:

I need this component for a project of mine. I have gotten hold of some awesome things I can play around with. :cool:

It would be very much appreciated if someone could assist.

Regards.
 
I have gotten hold of some awesome things I can play around with. :cool:

Let me guess, a wireless camera?

I would recommend going to your local hobby shop but be prepared to spend at least 5K, depending on what size plane you want.

You will need the glider (R2K-12K) you will need a radio (R2K-R5K), motor (R800-R2000), speed controller (R500-R1500), charger (+-R550), batteries (R800-R2000)*2 if you want to fly while you charge. All these prices are for a basic setup, you can spend a lot more if you want. I have a few planes myself, the biggest cost me in excess of 40K, and even that is not a lot in this hobby.
 
Let me guess, a wireless camera?

I would recommend going to your local hobby shop but be prepared to spend at least 5K, depending on what size plane you want.

You will need the glider (R2K-12K) you will need a radio (R2K-R5K), motor (R800-R2000), speed controller (R500-R1500), charger (+-R550), batteries (R800-R2000)*2 if you want to fly while you charge. All these prices are for a basic setup, you can spend a lot more if you want. I have a few planes myself, the biggest cost me in excess of 40K, and even that is not a lot in this hobby.

HAHA, actually no. That would violate numerous privacy laws... :eek:

OK. So hobby shops have this equipment nowdays? Thanks.

Two beers to you. ;)
 
Why are the batteries so expensive? Big ones?

I bought a 3-cell (what, 11.1V) 2000mAh, for around R300.

I was thinking of 3000-4000mah for a biggish glider, so yeah, about R500 for a cheap pack.
I personally only use Evo packs by Flight Power because I can charge them at 2.5C whereas the cheap packs can only charge at 1C. Also they have a much higher output but for a glider that would not really be necessary. My 1500mah evo batt cost me R600 from my local hobby shop, to give you an idea.
 
Ok this is how it is.

I have a solar panel that would fit VERY nicely on the top of the wings of a plane. They are flexible such that I could fit them nicely against the contour of the wings.

I would like to know if it somehow possible to "trickle" charge the batteries as the plane is exposed to ambient light.

Do these planes have a carriage attached that could hold equipment?

Can I hook up a GPS transmitter to it?

I have other "toys" that I would also like to test... ;)

... wireless infra-red camera, capable of transmitting at up to 1.5km !
 
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... wireless infra-red camera, capable of transmitting at up to 1.5km !

A camera! I knew it! Hehehe, I know a few people who have put cams on their planes, it works well.

Yes, you could hook up a GPS to it, a carriage or container could be constructed for equipment.

As for charging from solar, I don't know about that. I am sure it can be done but not with the equipment I am familiar with.
 
A camera! I knew it! Hehehe, I know a few people who have put cams on their planes, it works well.

Yes, you could hook up a GPS to it, a carriage or container could be constructed for equipment.

As for charging from solar, I don't know about that. I am sure it can be done but not with the equipment I am familiar with.

LOL :D Not THAT type of camera. It's for a an honours project. :) Promise.

Cool, thanks.

How long you been into radio controlled chaos?
 
A while back I saw an really awesome plan for a homebuilt spyplane, searched for it now but couldnt find it.

Basically what they did was start out with an hp pocket pc connect that to a com port emulator and finally some com port servo controller.

Camera problem solved, pda has one.
gps problem solved, pda has one.

now the cool thing is you can program the whole flight path and just launch the plane, sms it commands like return home or set new waypoint, you probably can also control it realtime over the dataconnection and see what is going on.

How does it sound?
 
You'll have to get quite a bit of power out of that solar to make it carry the plane.

I've only got a heli for number, and that probably sucks a lot more, but it needs about 22Wh (11V, 2000mAh ) to carry it for only few minutes, say 10 minutes. You'll need like 130W output to let it fly indefinitely without any additional payload.

That's a lot, considering the useful load on this tiny thing is only 200 odd grams. A 100W solar panel is several kilograms.

No idea how much a glider would suck up, but a big one is going to cost a bundle.

I'd love to get a plane and put a camera on that though.
 
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