Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
Ok guys, Ive been working on this plane for about a year now, off and on, mainly off. The wing is a straightened Tower Hobbies 40 trainer wing, everything else is scratch. The fuselage is skeleton frame similar to the SIG Kadet Senior to minimize weight, covered in Dove Grey Monokote, I have Neon Green stripes under the wing. I was going to bolt on the wing, decided different, too much work. The engine is an OS 32SX-H helicopter engine, they put out 1.2 HP, thats more than an OS 40 LA. It has a 24 oz. fuel tank, all batteries are up front. The project for this plane will be a GPS aimed camera dome using the PDC-10 autopilot to aim the camera at a fixed point like it would the rudder on a conentional UAV. I may put a Co-pilot on it but it wont be autonomous nor will I will be going for any altitude records, done did all that Im gonna do. I did add a small flight electronics compartment just forward of the LE, (where the 2.4ghz antenna sticks up) I plan to put all the camera gear in there with a pull down door thatll have the voltwatches of all batts mounted on the door so I can see all voltages on the ground when the door is open. This plane doesnt weigh all that much with the skeletonized frame, itll fly ok I think. Kinda looks like something familiar though...hmmm?
Nice to see the Ghost ready to go. I'm intrigued by your camera guided to waypoint with a PDC-10. Thats a very cool concept. Nice piece of forward thinking. It will be pan only I presume? Any way to adjust the tilt?
Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
I did find a page that a group has used an HS55 integrated into the dome: http://www.ee.byu.edu/magicc/images/archive/Gimbal_web_gallery/ I think I found that page on one of these forums, if I do incorporate tilt itll be a little depending on if the target is a large area or something specific closer in, I dunno.
I figured if the PDC-10 will aim the nose of the aircraft using rudder, it can aim a dome camera on a modded servo. Dan, I saw a post of yours on another forum about the servo creep eliminator chip/board. I like that little device.
Ive always been a fan of the Pioneer UAV, it was one of the first and I got hooked on UAVs at Nauticus in Norfolk VA a couple of years a go. They had a Pioneer hanging above the lobby and from a kiosk that resembled a UAV Ground station you could remote operate the camera.. I was hooked! My wife had to drag my away! I was kicking and screaming, made quite a scene!!
The Gray Ghost needs aileron servos mounted and itll be ready. Ill post pics! Thanks guys!
Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
Maiden test flight went off today with only minor hitches. I have a little flutter on the thin rudders I installed. The plane flew great, the straight wing took a little getting used to on roll. She lands like a dream, after being used to low wing load planes like the SIG LT40 and Kadet Senior this plane has a great sink rate on landing, a little flare is all it takes to grease a carrier landing nose high, very impressive. The .32 heli engine pushes it pretty good, I may need to go to a larger engine if I load it up with more gear than I plan.
It looks great in the air, I got many comments on that today. Everyone got pics of it but me, Ill have to have some in flight pics taken.
Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
Ive just ordered the Sullivan Genesys onboard power system for the Grey Ghost, Tower has them for $94, the lowest Ive seen it yet. When its installed I want to see how long the OS 32SHX engine runs on its 24 oz fuel tank and the onboard charger.
Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
Dan, I put the engine mount right on the thrustline, I shouldve gone up a little, itll clear an 11X7P on takeoff but I like the RPMs I get with a 10X6P, more clearance too. I am going to fly it full tank and see how long it takes, just for kicks!
T'aimster, Ive been eyeing Genesys for a while, then the price dropped and Tower has a $25 coupon ending at midnight tonight on a $149 order, so I need a new battery pack for the helicam and a backplate (with built-in needle) for my 46 FX. I sheared it off in a crash about a year ago, so..$25 is a good deal, covers shipping.
Im working on a drawer for the side now. I want all camera electronics mounted on a drawer-type mechanism that I can slide out on the side to service or add to, Ill post pics when thats done.
Understood about the prop clearance. I have 3 1/2 inches of clearance with my 18x8P Zingers. Have to order them from Joe Zingali himself at 25.00 each. About 28.00 each by the time you buy a few and factor in the S&H. I did a few flights from gravel roads and it was hit and miss. But, I got prop damage every time. The rocks get sucked up from underneath and hit the props. I thought I would be smart and even though I couldn't find the exact right size, I did find a Master Airscrew 16X10 3 blade pusher at Tower hobbies. Glass filled nylon. It was cheaper too. Only about 15.00 each. It flew the plane just fine so I went back to gravel roads. I did get a dent in one blade and one day while doing some Video switch testing at my lake bed, I threw that dented one. (Sure sounds funny and makes the plane shake bad) I got it set down OK though and chalked it up to that dent. I used a second three bladed prop on a gravel road takeoff about two weeks ago. It was brand new never used. I was about 5 seconds away from rotation when "Whap" and a little dust cloud appeared behind the plane. The engine reved high and I shut it down. It was fairly hard pack so the plane rolled another 30 yards or so before it finally came to a stop. I hate those. Irrigation ditch on one side and fence on the other. Anyhow, I picked up at least one or more rocks and lost the ends of two blades. Thats it, I'll just take off from dirt, vegetation or pavement from now on no matter what prop. I did take the remaining wooden Zingers and put a layer of .5 oz glass cloth with polyester resin on the last three inches then balanced them back out. This keeps the sand and little stuff from sandblasting the ends. I figure after 3 wooden props and two glass filled, (Over $100.00 just in props) I'm designing the next plane with the engine sitting higher. Maybe a single tail boom like Dave Jones planes of AUAV. I just can't quite get comfortable with the geometry of the design. Lots of stress on that single tail mount. I might stick to twin boom but will just have to move the engine mount above the firewall and offset the thrust to compensate. Other than the rocks if I pick a bad runway, The plane flies like it's on rails. Handles cross wind real well etc.
Have you played with your Ghost in cross wind yet. It looks like it wouldn't weather vane bad at all.
Printable Version
All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Aerial Photography and Video >> New plane about ready 
New plane about ready - 
RE: New plane about ready - 
