Hello!
I am working on a project on flight controls on some 3D-flying maneuvers. We want to purchase a YAK 54 model soon and are right now trying to figure out which size to go for (we are thinking about something around 70-90 '' wingspan).
At some point we will have to put some electronics on board the plane and so the main problem is to figure out how big the plane will need to be to still be able to do the whole 3D stuff (vertical hover in particular).
As I personally have no experience with RC flying at all (apart from flight simulators like aerofly Pro) I would like to ask if there is a way to estimate the applicable payloads on RC planes.
Thank you very much,
Wolfram

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I've got it right here.........

(passes the popcorn bucket back to exeter_acres)

Sorry, I ate all the buttery ones.

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Sheesh guys, is it so hard to see what he needs. Personally I think the both of you need to chill out and think a bit

First of all the total weight of the plane when relating it to wingspan will be around 12lb to 17lbs. Minimum cost for the lighter side is gonna be close to $1200.00 and then towards the heavy side more like $2000.00

3D flight is not something you want to start out with and hovering is not all there is to 3D flight. Hovering is easy, dragging the plane around tail low and in total control is gonna be hard.

There is a way to estimate what your total weight is going to be but you need to know what goes into the plane first. Every manufacturer will list what the required and you can take that list, do the research on what each part weighs, add it all up, add 8 to 12 ounces for glue/extensions things like that.

It will not be easy to find out this yourself but it can be done. We do it all the time

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First of all: Thanks very much to all of you for the great welcome to this forum...seems like you guys are a bunch of real nice and very, very funny people...
Next: I did not talk about flying that thing myself (maybe the username was a little misleading then I admit). Actually we are not worried about flying it for quite a while at all. What we need is a specific model to develop some data (I won't need any piloting experience to put it into a wind tunnel, for example...) that we can use to get a (to start with rather coarse) model to get some idea about possible control algorithms.
As "at some point" (that was supposed to be left pretty much open, and I am aware that is not going to be next week!!) people will be interested in actually flying the thing (I personally will most probably be done with my work and out of the project by that time anyway) all we need right now is an idea of what size to go for.
The stuff we want to put in the plane is probably going to be around 1 kg at the most.
So if you guys are done with throwing around diapers and whatever else you're into I'd appreciate any helpful comments...
Thanks

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The problem is you still really haven't asked a question. It's a long paragraph that doesn't really tell anyone anything about what you are trying to accomplish... control algorithms.? Are you making a gyro system.. there isn't going to be a magical control algorithm to make a plane hover on it's own.. if you want that put a couple gyros in it or something.

1kg in equipment is a lot of weight... 2.2 pounds in a 70" plane can easily be make or break for 3D.. and will dramactically effect a 90" wingspan plane. The larger the better. How this plane 3Ds empty verses adding 2.2 pounds to it will be a night and day difference. You want a plane with the most square inches on the wings... I would be looking at something like an Extremeflight 88" Yak with 1450 sq inches it will take the extra weight a bit better.

At any rate I hope you have a pilot who can fly incolved in the project. Its one thing to fly around on a sim.. its another to actually do it and have a few grand in the air that you have to land saftly again

Thanks.
I know from people doing the same thing that went for a Quique Yak 54 102''. I was just hoping that we could go for something a little smaller than that.
Unfortunately I still can't say exactly how much payload (I'll just stick to that term for simplicity reasons even if that sounds ridiculous to you...) we need.

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I am certainly concerned about the "few grand in the air that you have to land saftly again" (the electronics will add some more to that...). I did not think about any 911 ideas that this might have sounded like
But as I said, right now I am not worried about the actual flying and finding an experienced pilot anyway.
The sensors will include gyros, accelerometers, airdata, GPS probably integrated in some unit like those of Cloudcap Technology. But this is all to be sorted out later!

guys, he did ask a question, it's in the last line of the original post

Good luck with your project....

UAV's sound like fun

keep all weight as close to the cg as possible. Planes even though they might be balanced are nasty when the weight is all at the front and the tail. it has to do with moments of inertia and will cause over rotation and slow down spins

Add weight, need more engine. More weight of the engine, need more fuel, add more fuel add more weight. It'll drive anybody nuts. The space program found this out with the space shuttle. The solid rocket boosters are there only the lift the fuel for the shuttle rockets. don't even ask about the payload weight. Dennis