Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bradley Muller on February 7, 2012 at 7:34am

Just found another good plane to use:

http://www.lowpricerc.com/product_info.php/skywalker-version-2012-e...

Please also consider this one.

thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Brad Smith on February 7, 2012 at 10:01am

i was about to ask the same question ,i think you need to elaborate more on your experience and intended use and expectations to get a better answer ! i would go to the hobby king forums to see if there are problems with the ones you like all look like good platforms the raptor would probably be the the strongest but the hardest to repair the sky walker is the biggest and would hold more gear .all depends on what you intend to do and you piloting skills if you intend to fly 15 miles away your choices are limited

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Permalink Reply by Bradley Muller on February 7, 2012 at 10:27am

At the moment I only have experience in Flying normal RC helicopters. Just waiting for my APM 2.0 board to complete my Quadrocopter setup. So experience in UAVs is nothing :P

What I would like to achieve is a long flight, +- 50kms from point A to Point B. But right now, I first just want to get a plane up in the air with the APM 2.0 board and get everything working. Then move onto FPV flying. Then move onto long distance automated travel.

So I think Im starting to answer my own question now... Start out small and cheap with the Bixler or Raptor, just to get my ears wet. After that, move onto a bigger platform to carry a bigger load. i.e the SkyWalker or bigger.

Is this the right step?

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Permalink Reply by Don Brooks on February 7, 2012 at 10:32am

You seem to have gotten to the same answer that I was about to give you. start small, and expect to crash a few times. Better to crash nearby and learn something, than to crash 50km away, and lose everything.

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Permalink Reply by Brad Smith on February 7, 2012 at 10:59am

so true i had one run away never to be seen again and it still bothers me and was only worth $50

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Permalink Reply by Brad Smith on February 7, 2012 at 10:52am

sounds like a good plan to me but you might want to wait or read other threads to get an answer from some one with experience i,m not sure which planes can hold the APM  and are easy to fly and repairable plus if you go with a known working platform you,ll make it easier for others to help or maybe even already have build plans and vid,s already posted . as for me i,m waiting for others to answer for now I've got a skyfun like foamy that i,m gonna try its not the easiest to fly but its tough and easily repaired (looks like its tiger striped from gluing the nose back on so many times, lol)   

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Permalink Reply by Clint Wachter on February 22, 2012 at 8:41am

Hey guys. First post here, but not my last.  I am looking to build my first uav/fpv plane.  I have been searching for a plane that looks nice that would also perform well.  I was wondering what your opinions on this plane would be. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=...

I like the fact that it is a scale version of a real uav, and it looks like it has plenty of room for electronics.  The landy gear is nice as well.  I know the bixler seems to be a good beginner plane, but if I could use something more in this direction I would be happier.  Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance!

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Permalink Reply by Don Brooks on February 22, 2012 at 10:03am

EDF is a bad choice because they have 50% of the battery duration that a normal outrunner with prop does.

Scale UAVs are always a bad choice. There are dozens of threads here (even if they are hard to find) covering this. The long narrow wings and small control surfaces make them inherently unstable and unsuitable for scale UAV use.

Beginners always get caught up in how 'cool' their new UAV will look (I did too, overactive imagination!) and they almost invariably argue against the advice that they have solicited by posting the question... but those are simple facts, and when it smashes itself into the ground, the feeling of disappointment will be several times greater than any additional excitement created by a scale plane.

It may seem like a harsh unwelcoming response meant to ruin your dream, but in the long run it will save you a lot of grief. Sorry to be the one to burst your bubble :(

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Permalink Reply by Clint Wachter on February 22, 2012 at 11:12am

Thanks for the quick reply! I had a feeling that stability would be an issue with the scale uav's.  The small wing area and no dihedral just won't work.  Well, the bixler isn't terrible looking, but if it is stable, and more forgivng than it's worth sacrificing that scale look.  Of course we all want our planes to look as cool as possible, but I guess for a beginner you're right, it isn't worht the look just to crash it into the ground on it's first flight.  I'll go with the bixler, or if the easy star 2 comes out before I save up enough money for this project I might go with that.  I'm glad to see a friendly community on here, I appreciate the help and I'll appreciate it in the future!

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Permalink Reply by Don Brooks on February 22, 2012 at 11:23am

The bixler looks pretty good once you pull off the horrid hobbyking striping...

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Permalink Reply by Clint Wachter on February 22, 2012 at 11:50am

You have a pretty good point.  It looks clean being just pure white.  I'm sure i'll be satisfied, afterall when it's in the air you can't see the detail anyways haha.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Bennett on March 7, 2012 at 10:40am

Wow... where did you get that gorgeous DIYDrones logo?

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